Asian Indian University of Cincinnati Prof With 29 Patents Feuds With School: Says Reputation, Research Efforts 'Sabotaged'

Prof. Dharma Agrawal

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Computer science professor Dharma Agrawal was recruited from North Carolina in the late 1990s and was given tenure and the title Ohio Board of Regents distinguished professor. He was considered a world class researcher. Agrawal -- a naturalized U.S. citizen who emigrated from India in 1976 -- now is claiming his research funds have been taken away because he's not American born.  His lawsuit claims violations of academic freedom, due processs and discrimination against him because of race and skin color. The lawsuit was originally filed in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court last month, but has been moved to U.S. District Court in Cincinnati. University of Cincinnati lawyers said the suit raises federal civil rights issues. The move to federal court suggest the school plans a vigorous defense.

Agrawal contends that Carlo Montemagno, dean of the college of engineering and applied science, and John g. Bryan, interim vice provost for academic personnel, have harassed him and disrupted his research efforts since 2006. He said the school has wrongly accused him of exploiting students and leveled unproven accusations that he forced foreign students with F-1 visas to work on proposals for his private company. For a time, he said he was suspended and banned from appearing at the college. Agrawal's lawsuit said he was the victim of a sham investigation:

"Dean Montemamgno claimed to have conducted an investigation that substantiated the allegations; but in fact no report of such investigation has been found and apparently none was actually conducted and the Dean had no legitimate reason to have brought such allegations and proposed discipline. Rather, Dean Montemagno had deliberately brought the charges to destroy the reputation of the plaintiff, and to induce him to leave the University." 

Agrawal is an expert in the field of wireless systems. He claims there is a campaign under way to disrupt his research. Agrawal originally was brought to Ohio -- along with several others recruited to the state's 13 campuses -- in a bid to stimulate the state's economy by boosting research efforts across the state university system. Regents professors were funded by the state because they had earned national recognition for their work and excelled as scholars. But Agrawal said it went off the tracks at the University of Cincinnati:

" . . . Plaintiff was intentionally discriminated against by defendants because of his non-white race and color and because of his Indian national origin and Indian ancestry. Had Professor Agrawal been treated equally with white professors or American-born professors at the University of Cincinnati, there would have been no attempt to discipline him as was attempted, nor would his graduate faculty rights have been suspended."

Agrawal wants $500,000 in punitive damages, attorney fees, an injunction and reinstatement of nearly $400,000 in Ohio Board of Regents research funds that were stripped from his control.

Ohio's Central State U: 'Net Copycat Victim?

WILBERFORCE, Ohio (TDB) -- Remember the line that went something like this from the old TV game show To Tell the Truth: Will the real Dr. Spock please stand up? Now glance at the Web sites HERE and HERE. Any chance of confusion? Will the real Central State stand up?

And what about the WARNING on the first Website?

Ohio officials ought to take action that would eliminate further potential for a mixup. Perhaps this is a case for Attorney General Marc Dann to crack.

Besides sharing the same name, the colleges in Ohio and California seem to share the same school colors. Coincidence? Ohio's Central State (the second Web click above) is a public university that has been around for 150 years. The California version is a privately owned institution that looks to be a proprietary school meant to make a profit.

Central State (Ohio version) President John Garland was at the Ohio Board of Regents this week making a pitch for an extra $33 million in state funding for campus building improvements and repairs, student financial aid and academic program enhancements. The historically black college has about 2,000 students. Garland's goal is to retain students and grow. Regents and lawmakers would have to act on the program.

Last January, the regents approved giving the school an extra $4 million. Here's what the minutes say: "Central State University has identified a need for $4 million for its Center of Education & Natural Sciences project. This project, when completed, will provide a facility to house and support the CSU College of Education, Natural Sciences and Institute for Urban Education programs. Currently the College of Education shares space within the library that is inadequate to fulfill the mission of the College of Education program. Natural Sciences are currently housed in Banneker Hall, a facility that is grossly inadequate to support modern science education. Phase I, currently under way, will provide space for the College of Education. This request will provide support to full fund Phase II, which will provide the science facilities for this building."

The regents' action from a year ago is HERE. The surprise is this: All of Ohio's campuses were deteriorating and $5 billion in repairs were needed. "There is a backlog of expensive and critically needed renovation, rehabilitation and replace projects on Ohio's campuses," the report said.

Sooner or later, the campuses will be fixed. But why not do something right away? Why doesn't somebody in power in Columbus find out what is going on with what seems to be a Web look-a-like? Is it poaching? Is it coincidence?