I agree with AshuJi. This is an interesting thread and was brought to my attention by my brother who went to KU. I used to teach at Padma Kanya Campus. I had been following letter writing campaign by some former staff too. Like AshuJi, I do not know these people, but I am familier with KU's reputation as being a good institution. I tried to get a treaching job there but did not pursue it any further. I had also heard of some examples of "friendly/family hiring" by some of the high ranking officials. (My brother had something about it.) That needs to change, but can anyone name an organization that has not done this? Majority of them do. Just look at the NC party or the Maoists' CPI(M). Is there democracy in those organizations? For god's sake, let's not try to single out KU alone and begin dismantling it? The fact remains that it is a pioneering institution that has changed our educational direction. It is not just about Suresh Raj or Radheshyam Adhikari. No excsue, but like Ashuji says: keep some perspective here friends. I think institutions do need to be monitored and sometimes pushed for reforms. A healthy debate is essential, but the way it has been potrayed in the newspapers is neither accurate nor healthy. The former employees' tactic of name calling seems petty and low. First, a barrage of letters and accusatory writing by former employees should always be taken with some caution. No employees ever leave an institution happily. That is, we do not know the whole story. Taking money to study abroad and not going back to the parent institution sounds fishy. Secondly, just serving seven or nine years alone should not be the sole qualification from promotion or retention, especially in academic institutions. The issue has gotten tangled with many complexities. It also looks like a classic labor/management conflict. The labor side wants to enhance its bargaining power by organizing an union and wants to bring out everything to discred the management. Just read the language used against the VC. That is neither civil nor informative. Thus, they have found Suresh Sharma/Radheshyam Adhikari team as a pair of villian. The labor side is also trying to recruit the students, and they may get some help from the Maoist affiliated student unions. The day they get a student union at KU that will be end of KU's reputation and quality. Why do we need another TU and Trichandra? Don't we have enough of those already? ST