Professor Hussein: A Brave Man With a Loving Family

Many of you have probably never heard of Professor Hussein S. Hussein, an animal nutrition expert at the University of Nevada, Reno, who complained of animal neglect at UNR's research facilites. He has since filed harassment charges against the university. UNR President John Lilley, slightly overpaid and a major embarassment to the University System, convened a panel early this year to review bogus charges that I believe Lilley was hoping would lead to the Professor's firing. As a shock to the Pres., all charges against Professor Hussein were dropped.

Meanwhile, in June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture cited UNR for 46 violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act and handed UNR a reduced fine of $11,400, a small price to pay for the huge amount of suffering they caused. Oh and did I mention President Lilley makes well over $300,000 a year, including perks, and just had his office renovated. Must be nice.

As a whistleblower, Professor Hussein has suffered stress and alleged (lawsuits are still pending and I don't want to get sued, but other than that, you can realistically delete the "alleged") retaliation for speaking out against the neglect of dozens of UNR's research animals, leading to the deaths of most of them. He and his family have been so brave through all of this. Even his students have been harassed, having years of reasearch experiments sabbotaged by someone who has never been caught.

Oh, have I mentioned that a UNR video surveillance camera, pointed toward the Professor's lab, was mysteriously turned off during the time the research was ruined? Hmmm. The Husseins are kind, strong and amazing people who believe in speaking out again wrongdoing. Professor Hussein's students fully support him, which can only make one conclude that he is not only a good family man and ethical person, but an inspiring teacher as well.

UNR has yet to punish anyone for the actual neglect that took place. I guess they figure punishing the whistleblower was sufficient. The shock I have had in all of this is that this is a University, a place of academia, of education, of open minds, a place that should be setting an example for the rest of the community to follow. Mistakes happen, I know, but I would feel so much better about President Lilley and his administration if they would publicly admit the wrongdoing, punish those who were responsible for it, reward Professor Hussein for speaking out, apologize for their harassment of him, agree to a committee of local animal experts (not including the possibly (again, throwing in a "possibly" to protect my own behind) corrupt UNR vet Dr. Simmons) to oversee that the research animals are treated humanely and put safeguards in place so no more whistleblowers suffer harassment.

If UNR did these things, as I would have expected them to do, and am so ashamed they have not, I would be proud to be an alumna. As for now, if I had known then what I know now, I would never have gone to school there. Nor will I give them any of my financial support.

Please follow this link http://www.rgj.com/extra/troubleonthefarm.php to read the in depth expose by Reno Gazette Journal reporter Frank Mullen.