The College of the Bahamas was in turmoil last night as the future of its president, Dr. Rodney Smith, hung in the balance in the wake of his ‘plagiarism’ confession.
A senior academic called on Dr. Smith to resign immediately. Meanwhile, the lecturers union was expected to echo his demand at an emergency executive meeting last night.
The college council – the governing body – was also reported to be in crisis talks yesterday to decide on Dr. Smith’s fate.
The call for his resignation came from Mr. Felix Bethel, who said that the president’s position was untenable after he admitted using another academic’s material in a speech he delivered to students last week without attribution.
Ironically, according to college sources, the speech was about honesty and integrity on campus and came after widespread discussion about plagiarism among students.
Dr. Smith’s public apology last week for failing to name one of three writers whose work he used in a convocation address sent shock waves through the Oakes Field Campus.
The controversy plunges COB into its biggest-ever crisis only a year after Dr. Smith – a Harvard graduate – was appointed with a fanfare from college council chairman Franklyn Wilson.
Mr. Wilson was the main driving force in easing out former president Dr. Leon Higgs and bringing in Dr. Smith at a salary of $120,000 a year, twice Dr. Higgs salary.
One lecturer said: “Dr. Smith was Mr. Wilson’s hand-picked choice. We therefore have to wonder at Mr. Wilson’s judgement.”
(Editor’s Note: Mr. Wilson is the famously unethical Bahamian businessman who has earned himself the nickname “snake”.)
Article Source: John Marquis, The Tribune
