PRAIRIE VIEW -- Two Waller County citizens groups went to the Prairie View A&M University campus Tuesday, calling for the resignation of a dean amid allegations of his improper personal conduct.
The half-dozen demonstrators said Gerard Rambally, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, lacks the "moral expertise" to continue in his position after a public lewdness charge led him to plead no contest to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct.
Rambally's lawyer, Paul Nugent, said the dean entered his plea to the lowest-level misdemeanor, equivalent to a traffic violation, on July 17 to avoid the expense and disruption of a trial. Rambally paid a $200 fine after entering his plea.
The case began in March after a neighbor complained that Rambally performed a lewd act in front of an open window of his apartment so she could see him. In court documents, she claimed he made eye contact with her several times during the incident in the 10200 block of Wortham Boulevard in northwest Harris County.
Rambally said Tuesday he is "absolutely innocent," but declined to comment further. His lawyer said he believed the neighbor's identification of Rambally was a mistake. He added that his client never admitted guilt.
Herschel Smith, president of the Waller County Leadership Council and leader of Tuesday's demonstration, said Rambally's actions make him unfit to lead students at the historically black university northwest of Houston.
"If this had happened at Texas A&M, this professor would not have stayed as long as he had," Smith said. "We will not accept anything else but his resignation today."
Officials at Prairie View and its parent organization, the Texas A&M University System, acknowledged receiving information about the case and said they are deciding what action, if any, should be taken. Rambally's contract comes up for renewal Sept. 1.
Frank Hawkins, chairman of the university's Faculty Senate Due Process Committee, sent a letter to Prairie View administrators in June, asking that Rambally be reassigned or dismissed. Hawkins watched Tuesday's demonstration from a distance. Although he did not participate, Hawkins said he agreed with the demonstrators' message.
"I think you have to have the moral authority to lead a group of people in an academic setting, and the administration has a responsibility to its constituencies here," Hawkins said.
In his letter, Hawkins cited Prairie View's faculty handbook that allows the university to remove a faculty member because of "moral turpitude" or "unprofessional conduct" that interferes with performance of duties.
Most students on the Prairie View campus who were asked about the decision had no knowledge of the case.
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LOL C'mon man... Let this man expose his genitalia if he wanna'. :emlaugh: He didn't expose 'em on campus yet, so... :bawling: :emlaugh:
