AUSTIN, Texas, July 15 (UPI) -- A Texas A& M professor says he was demoted for blowing the whistle on financial irregularities surrounding the construction of a medical building on campus.
Robert Hash is suing the university, saying he lost his position as vice dean of academic affairs after informing superiors a number of A&M employees had a financial interest in the construction of the school's new Family Medicine Practice building, The Austin (Texas) American-Statesman reported Wednesday.
In March 2009, Hash lodged an ethics complaint through the university and the state's Office of Inspector General abuse and fraud reporting system, court documents show.
A few days later, Hash was relieved of his vice dean job and was demoted to associate professor without tenure, the suit filed in state District Court in Travis County says.
A&M academic officials would not comment on the lawsuit, but Andrew Strong, A&M general counsel, said Hash was "moved down into a faculty position because he had personality differences with other administrators."
