The Bursar of Keble College, Roger Boden, has been accused of racism by a former employee of the College. Diamond Versi believes Boden made him redundant as the College' s head accountant because of his race. Versi is suing for almost £100,000 on the grounds of unfair dismissal, race discrimination, victimisation and breach of contract. An employment tribunal is currently investigating the allegations.
During the tribunal Versi claimed Boden had instigated a "personal vendetta" against him. Boden told Cherwell the College "utterly refutes the allegations and they are totally without foundation". He said Versi's post was made redundant, along with the position of assistant accountant, as part of the College's restructuring of the accounts department, aiming to make it "more cost effective" by reducing its salary bill and creating a single position. Versi and the assistant accountant were encouraged to apply but Versi declined. Boden said Versi had also been offered enhanced redundancy terms, but had rejected them.
The complaint first surfaced in February 2004 and was investigated by the College in accordance with its grievance procedure. The investigation concluded that the allegations were "entirely without merit". Versi appealed but the original decision was upheld. Boden said the internal investigation was very "thorough" and had been "extremely stressful" for him.
Boden believes Versi's motive is purely financial and that he is using racism in order to increase his pay-out; at an employment tribunal the maximum award for unfair dismissal is £55,000, whereas compensation for dismissal on grounds of racial discrimination has no upper limit.
"We have one individual who happens to be of minority ethnic origin who is using that without any justification at all to try and extort a higher settlement from the College. This was a rabbit that came out of the hat when he decided he was redundant and wanted more money". Boden said Versi had never previously voiced any concerns about racial discrimination towards him. "I have every confidence the tribunal will find no merit whatsoever in the allegations of racial discrimination", he added, "we are confident that throughout we conducted ourselves in accordance with employment law".
Boden said the allegations were a "very serious matter" and "damaged the reputation of the College, the University, his own reputation and the general climate of race relations, which in Keble is exceptionally good". He insisted he would not resign if the tribunal found in favour of Versi, and would appeal.
In an e-mail to all students at Keble informing them of the situation Boden said, "The College has every confidence that the evidence which has been and will be produced at the hearing will vindicate its decisions and actions". He added that the College valued "the very wide range of nationalities and cultural backgrounds from which its members are drawn", and that the diversity was "essential to the College's well-being and development".
Before the e-mail was sent students appeared to have known little about the allegations. One second year student said he had "not previously heard a single word about it", adding, "I was surprised but I am waiting to hear the result of the tribunal before I make any judgement".
Mohsin Zaidi, Keble College's JCR President, said he "wholeheartedly believes that Boden is not a racist" and said any such suggestion was "frankly ridiculous. I am Asian and deal with the Bursar on a regular basis and have never felt uncomfortable going to see him. The Bursar has always been welcoming, kind and an amazing guy to talk to. I have never felt intimated because of my racial origin," Zaidi said, "the JCR Committee fully supports the Bursar."
Dave Freeman, a JCR Welfare Officer, said Keble is a very ethnically diverse college and that he "knew people from ethnic minorities who had not voiced any concerns about racism".