Gamble Denies Coercion WSU Head Says Jacklin Didn’t Impact Field Burning Critique

Washington State University’s senior leadership isn’t selling out academic freedom, interim provost Geoff Gamble told faculty here Thursday.

“I want to reassure you there has been no coercion factor whatsoever,” Gamble told the faculty senate. “There is no question in our mind where we stand.”

Gamble was responding to faculty concerns about WSU’s decision to externally review a study after Jacklin Seed Co. of Post Falls threatened to pull private support over the results.

The study, conducted for the state Department of Ecology as part of its efforts to phase out most field burning, concluded the public benefits of reducing burning outweigh the costs to grass growers.

Jacklin has since softened its critique of the study, calling its reaction “too strong.”

Gamble told faculty that initiating a peer review is a means of defending and validating the work of faculty who come under attack.

“If legitimate questions come up I believe the institution has responsibility to respond,” Gamble said.

But some faculty bristled at the suggestion that the administration can call for the review of any faculty member’s research. Instead, WSU should have clear policy determining when a person’s work should be reviewed and who should review it, said one agricultural economics faculty member.

It’s not the first time an economic interest has attempted to sway WSU researchers, said Terry Cook, a political science professor.

“That outsiders think they can trigger some sort of process, a very unorthodox procedure for review, I think that’s a very chilling thing for academic freedom,” Cook said.

One faculty member suggested that outside complaints about research be detailed and specific before the university responds.

Entomology professor Alan Berryman said the administration should more firmly back its faculty and have faith that research is being conducted objectively.

“If we get into this trap where every time someone complains about research we go through a review process, we are going to be tied down with another 10 administrators on this campus,” Berryman said.

WSU already conducted an internal review of the study. A panel of experts not associated with the study is being selected to conduct the external review of the cost-benefit analysis.

, DataTimes