Bullies give birth

A rare insight into the weird and wonderful word of bullying in university law departments came from the Birmingham Industrial Tribunal this week.

Justifying its award of record damages to Manchester University lecturer Asif Qureshi this week (see above right), the tribunal detailed the "hostile" treatment that Qureshi had suffered over the seven-year race relations dispute with his employers. "We find - it has not been challenged - that (Qureshi) was given a wide birth (sic) by members of the faculty." Just what this unusual practice entails does not bear thinking about.