University Board Fires Nude Beach Scholar
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A Western Illinois University professor who studies nude beaches and was accused of neglecting his duties as a teacher was fired Thursday by the university’s governing board.
The Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities voted 8 to 0 to fire George R. Harker, effective immediately. He was the first tenured professor to be fired in the school’s 92-year history, university officials said.
Harker, 47, said he would appeal the decision through the university’s union grievance process. He teaches concepts and philosophy of leisure in the school’s department of recreation, parks and tourism administration.
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