UVIC POISED TO FIRE POT-GROWING PROF

UVic's president is calling for the dismissal of a sociology professor
found guilty of operating a marijuana grow operation.

David Strong said Friday he is recommending the UVic board of governors
dismiss sociology professor Jean Veevers

She was suspended and relieved of her duties at the university effective
Friday.

"The action results from a review of evidence submitted to the B.C. Supreme
Court, which demonstrates that Dr. Veevers offered to pay the tuition of a
prospective UVic student as an inducement for that person to continue as a
partner in the illegal activities which led to Dr. Veevers' conviction.

"This constitutes grounds for dismissal," Strong said. Veevers was fined
and given a conditional 12-month sentence - to be served in the community -
after she was convicted of cultivating marijuana and possession for the
purpose of trafficking.

Veevers declined to comment on the university's call for her dismissal. But
her lawyer, Mel Hunt, said, "she most certainly will be fighting it and
will pursue all legal remedies in that regard."

Hunt said Veevers offered to lend tuition money to a 32-year-old man who
was a partner in the grow operation and interested in studying engineering.

But the loan was not an inducement to continue the well-established
partnership and the man never took her up on her offer.

The move to fire her from UVic "will be fought on the grounds that this is
totally unfair and that they do not have grounds for dismissal," Hunt said.

"Her involvement in this gentleman and this illicit activity she engaged in
had absolutely nothing to do with her role as a professor at the university
of Victoria."

Under the Human Rights Code, it is discriminatory to fire someone for an
offence unrelated to their employment.

Depending on whether Veevers goes to arbitration over Strong's
recommendation to dismiss her, her case could go before the board of
governors at a time between six weeks and several months.

The university will not provide further comment until that process is
completed, Strong said.

RCMP officers raided Veevers' residence in April, 1997, seizing 122
marijuana plants and 8.6 kilograms of marijuana.