By Derek Hawkins

At least 480 students, faculty and staff have signed a petition calling for transparency in the recent suspension of former math department chair David Massey.

Created by David Hildebrand, a senior, the petition accuses university administrators of skirting university procedure and denying Massey due process in the sanction.

“We are appalled by the administration’s inappropriate treatment of Prof. David Massey and demand that his academic roles, responsibilities and freedoms be explicitly restored until and unless concrete allegations, duly filed, impartially investigated and unequivocally substantiated, are properly and transparently established,” the petition reads. “Until such time, the university’s administration must be held to account for its exercise of inappropriate, unsubstantiated, unfair and non-transparent disciplinary action.”

About two-thirds of full-time math professors had signed the petition as of press time.

University officials have not publicly disclosed the reasons for Massey’s suspension, but told students involved in the case that he had been suspended for violating the university’s non-discrimination policy.

Several university officials could not be reached for comment.

At a March 17 Student Government Association (SGA) meeting, President Joseph Aoun addressed a question about Massey’s suspension from a non-senator, who charged that the university had failed to explain its decision.

“This decision was difficult to make,” President Aoun said in an open Q’A session. “I received a recommendation from the dean and the provost and there were real issues that we cannot discuss from various points of view, including legal. But I want you to be aware that the premises are not the way you presented.”

Massey’s suspension came March 3, with the caveat that he is banned from campus and barred from contact with undergraduate and graduate students at Northeastern through Fall 2008.

However, sources familiar with the case said Massey had submitted a letter to the math department resigning as chair as early as Feb. 22.

Massey could not be reached for comment.

SGA President Joey Fiore and Vice President for Student Services Chris Bourne have met with university officials from the Office of Affirmative Action and Diversity, which handles grievances against employees, to discuss the sanctions against Massey.

“This is a tricky situation because we’re dealing with a cause for suspension that is something people can’t talk about,” Fiore said. “It’s a question of due process, but we can’t get into the process because that’s confidential to the case right now.”

As a professor, Massey, 48, was known for socializing with students in and out of class, and occasionally invited students to his Gainsborough Street apartment, several students said.

“He was a very social person with the students and the student body,” said Andy Morganelli, a sophomore mechanical engineering major. “He goes to great lengths to help them when they need it. He really just enjoys being with students and grad students.”

Morganelli, and others, said they were outraged that Massey had been banned from communicating with students.

Allen Kletkin, a senior economics major who never had Massey as a professor, said he was worried that the sanctions would prevent him from speaking to Massey before he graduates in May and moves out of state.

“I talk to him like I talk to my friends from home,” Kletkin said. “He’s been such a big part of the community and we feel like they’re just ripping the rug out from under him.”