From: "Lyons, Beauvais" Date: Friday, September 10, 2021 at 3:30 PM To: dplowman , "Gross, Louis J" Cc: "Zomchick, John P" , "Scoggins, Matthew" Subject: Re: Important Update Dear Donde: I appreciate receiving a copy of the letter to Dr. Hu in my role as faculty member of the UTK Advisory Board, and following his acquittal yesterday, I sincerely hope that the university can take steps to reinstate him to his faculty position. This is not only about doing what is right, but damage control for our institutional reputation. Reading the letter from today, I have three specific concerns: 1. The decision by the university to suspend Dr. Hu without pay according to the UTK-UTIA Faculty Handbook (3.12.3.1) provided a mechanism for the Federal Government to revoke his I9 work visa. As such, it would only be appropriate for the university to commit to work with him as part of a renewal of his I9 visa. Indeed, he cannot apply for an I9 visa without an employer sponsorship. 2. Provost Zomchick’s letter makes no mention of the following from the UTK-UTIA Faculty Handbook: “If the university’s final determination after either a UAPA proceeding or an ad hoc hearing committee proceeding is favorable to the faculty member and concludes both that the faculty member’s employment should not be terminated for Adequate Cause and that the faculty member should not have been suspended without pay pending completion of termination proceedings, then full restitution of salary, academic position and tenure lost during the suspension without pay will be made.” For the sake of Dr. Hu, as well as the reputation of the university, an offer of awarding him full back pay should be made as well. Indeed, I think the cost of litigation against the university would be much higher. 3. Finally, I would appreciate clarification of the claim against Dr. Hu that he was not disclosing his work for BJUT. News reports regarding the trial had indicated that the university was aware of this work, and it not uncommon, and often encouraged for faculty members to build such relationships with foreign universities. If there was work in some years that was not recorded on his conflict of interest paperwork, it seems that university would need to prove intent. I am in the process of working with the Faculty Senate faculty Affairs Committee to prepare a set of questions for Provost Zomchick to address at the September 20th Senate meeting. Cordially, Beauvais Lyons Beauvais Lyons Chancellor’s Professor School of Art 1715 Volunteer Blvd. 241 Art & Architecture Bldg. Knoxville, TN 37996-2410 Office: 01-865-974-3202 Mobile: 01-865-387-0542 Email: blyons@utk.edu Hokes Archives: http://volweb.utk.edu/~blyons UTK Printmaking: http://art.utk.edu/printmaking Video Profile: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Kz5_ZEOC1A