CSUN Officials Say Professor Denied Plot to Sell Grades

A Cal State Northridge professor denied when confronted by his superiors that he was operating a grade-selling scheme, university officials testified at a state personnel board hearing Tuesday.

The professor, Eleazu S. Obinna, has appealed his firing in May for allegedly offering students enrolled in an upper-division Pan-African studies course A grades in exchange for them selling $100 worth of raffle tickets and giving him the money.

During the hearing’s second day, Edward Sampson, the university’s former dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, said he confronted Obinna on Feb. 15 with the allegations.

“I asked Dr. Obinna directly if it is true that students were offered an A grade for selling raffle tickets,” said Sampson, now a psychology professor at CSUN. “He assured me that the rumor was not correct.”

Community Service Requirement

Obinna, a 17-year, tenured professor, told Sampson that the about 160 students enrolled in the field studies course, supervised by him and former instructor Willie Bellamy, who was also fired, were required to perform more than 40 hours of community service and write a paper on the work, Sampson testified.

“I felt assured,” Sampson said.

But in April, students began lodging complaints that Obinna was not requiring any work for credit in the class besides the selling of raffle tickets to benefit the nonprofit United Crusade Foundation, which he headed, Sampson said. When Obinna learned of the student complaints, he became enraged, Sampson said.

“I told him that if his house was in order, there would be no problem,” Sampson testified.

But evidence gathered from students prompted university President James Cleary to suspend the course April 27, Sampson said.

Ralph Vicero, the school’s associate dean of social and behavioral sciences, also testified that Obinna had told him in February that students were not offered top grades in exchange for selling raffle tickets.

Wrongdoing Denied

The hearing before Byron Berry, an administrative law judge, continues today with testimony expected from Obinna, who in the past has denied any wrongdoing. Obinna has refused to comment on the testimony given so far.

Four students who testified Monday said Obinna told them that they would receive A grades in exchange for selling the tickets. No other course work was required, they said.

Obinna continues to draw his $4,400-a-month salary while appealing his firing, university officials said.

Bellamy could not appeal his firing because he was a part-time instructor. He is now a full-time graduate student of religious studies at the Northridge campus.