FLICKR, AARON LOGANOn Thursday (October 4), the University of Southern California (USC) announced that it had fired its medical school dean, Rohit Varma, the Los Angeles Times reports. Varma is the second dean USC has lost in recent history after revelations of misconduct.
In a statement quoted by the Times, USC provost Michael Quick says that the firing is related to information provided by “Los Angeles Times and the university’s own inquiry into the matter.” The Times was about to publish an investigative story about a case in 2003 in which Varma was disciplined for sexual harassment when USC made its announcement. As of Wednesday, the Times reported, “USC had told The Times it considered the matter resolved and that it remained confident in Varma.” But by Thursday, the university reversed its opinion.
“Based on previously undisclosed information brought to the university in recent days, USC leadership has lost confidence in Dr. Rohit Varma’s ability to lead our medical school. As of today, he is no longer dean ...