A Florida university took decisive action by terminating the employment of a professor due to his alarming negligence in managing data related to racial bias studies, posing a significant risk to the institution’s reputation. The professor, known for decades of research previously hailed at the forefront of his profession, now faces severe criticism after investigations revealed numerous errors and false narratives in his work.
In a stern and exhaustive five-page termination letter, Florida State University’s Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, James Clark, expressed grave concerns about the professor’s conduct, citing extreme negligence and incompetence in fulfilling his duties. The letter highlighted the absence of basic data management skills, resulting in a substantial number of retractions and doubts surrounding other published articles.
The professor, Eric Stewart, had initially challenged the evidence presented by FSU’s misconduct inquiry committee, claiming that multiple experts had dismissed the misconduct claims. Nevertheless, the termination letter strongly refuted this defense, pointing out that Stewart had failed to take any meaningful steps to address the issues since they first surfaced four years ago. Furthermore, he had refused to collaborate with FSU colleagues seeking resolution.
Following a lengthy investigation, Stewart resigned from his position in March, a move prompted by the retraction of six race-related studies he co-authored. One particularly problematic study claimed a correlation between a criminal’s race and the public’s inclination for harsher prison sentences, but further examination revealed no such correlation and suggested manipulated data to fit the desired outcome.
Justin Pickett, a co-author of one of the retracted studies, asserted that the discrepancies observed in Stewart’s work could not be attributed to researcher error, raising the possibility of scientific fraud. Fox News Digital reached out to Stewart for comment, but an automated response stated his unavailability. FSU has not yet responded to requests for comment on this matter.
As the university takes a stand against potential academic misconduct, the termination of a professor with a lengthy tenure sends a clear message about the importance of maintaining integrity in research and data management, safeguarding the institution’s reputation for years to come.