Professor suspended from top university for giving off 'negative vibes'

A professor was suspended from a top university for nine months following accusations he “sighed” and was sarcastic during job interviews.

Thomas Docherty was banned from the University of Warwick in January for allegedly giving off "negative vibes" and undermining the authority of the former head of his department.

The case against him included "inappropriate sighing", "making ironic comments" and "projecting negative body language”.

During the suspension, the English and Comparative Literature professor was banned from the campus and writing references for students without permission. He was also stopped from returning their work or providing guidance on PhDs and was not permitted to have contact with undergraduates.

Yesterday it emerged the academic - whose suspension was lifted last month - is set to be cleared of all allegations against him.

Professor Docherty is a prominent critic of the marketization of education who has described the Russell Group - of which the University of Warwick is a member – as "a self-declared elite…even exerting a negative influence over others".

He was accused of undermining the authority of Catherine Bates, the former head of English who stepped down earlier this year. It is understood Professor Bates originally brought the complaint against Professor Docherty, but the case was taken over by the university’s senior management.

Writing on Friday on a Facebook protest page set up by outraged students, Professor Docherty said he had been “deeply moved” by their support.

He said: "Thanks again to you all - and, with luck, I'll see some of you in class, in conference, or just around and about."

Anne O'Sullivan from the University and College Union said: "It beggars belief that an academic can be suspended with no contact with students or colleagues for almost a year while charges are finalised.”

A spokesperson for the University of Warwick said it accepted the tribunal's findings.