Professor faces discipline hearing

RENO -- A disciplinary hearing is under way for a University of Nevada, Reno professor accused of plagiarism and misappropriation of funds.

Hussein S. Hussein, an internationally known animal nutrition researcher, maintains he's being punished because he was a whistle-blower who alleged abuse of university research animals in complaints to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2004.

Hussein, 52, has been charged with failing to credit his graduate students for their work in research papers and failing to give a required portion of his research funds to the school for indirect costs.

He also faced a disciplinary hearing in 2005 on a charge that he violated university regulations by hiring a Reno veterinarian to examine 10 research pigs at the College of Agriculture. That charge was dismissed by then-President John Lilley.

"It's a cycle of terror," Hussein said.

But at the current hearing, representatives of the university have presented evidence that they say substantiates the allegations against Hussein.

A four-member faculty committee and special hearing officer, retired Washoe County District Court Judge Peter Breen, heard a third day of testimony Saturday in Reno. The hearing is scheduled to resume March 18.

Breen's recommendation will be forwarded to the faculty committee and university President Milton Glick, who will make a final decision.