The SIU Faculty Senate passed a resolution supporting Professor Ming Xiao. Xiao has been indicted under the government's China Initiative, and has been placed on leave pending an investigation by SIU.
The senate voted 15 to 4 to pass the resolution, with 8 members abstaining.
Those in favor of the resolution say university has had plenty of time to conduct an investigation and come to a conclusion. Professor Scott Comparato suggested the university is purposefully drawing out the case.
"This is a CYA situation for the university. They're suspending him, disciplining him, calling it an investigation as long as the Justice Department is prosecuting," he said. "And should we be so fortunate that Merrick Garland drops this against Professor Xiao, I think we might find the university will wrap up it's investigation the very next day."
Other faculty members expressed concern over passing the resolution when the legal case against Xiao is still in progress.
University leaders have declined to comment other than to say the investigation is ongoing.
