Paul D. Coleman, Ph.D., protesting the charges against Dr. Kay

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July 15, 1998 Peter Likins, Ph.D. President, University of Arizona Administration Building, Rm. 712 Tucson, AZ 85721 Dear President Likins, I write this letter with regard to the case of Marguerite Kay, M.D. which is now before you. I have known Dr. Kay for approximately 20 years as a scientific colleague. I submitted a statement on her behalf to the C.A.F.T. panel and appeared before the panel when it conducted its hearing earlier this year. Now that this matter is on your desk I write to you to make a number of points:

1. Knowing Dr. Kay as well as I do, it is inconceivable that she would intentionally do anything that would call the quality of her science into question.
2. Dr. Kay had a busy, relatively large laboratory in which many people produced data.
3. As someone who also runs a large laboratory, I know the problems and rewards of having a large laboratory. Among the problems is the impossibility of monitoring every aspect of the work of everyone in the laboratory. Spot checking is the best that one can do to maintain quality control.
4. I find the charges against Dr. Kay to largely consist of the kinds of problems that might be found in any large laboratory. These are problems that do not negate the overall quality of the scientific findings being produced.
5. The punishment already imposed on Dr. Kay is far in excess of that merited by Dr. Kay's scientific conduct.
6. I have reviewed the publication records of all the members of the C.A.F.T. panel before which I appeared and reach the conclusion that Dr. Kay's case was not examined by a group of her peers, colleagues who would have an understanding of what it means to run a large, active and productive laboratory in the current environment. Although the University of Arizona faculty does have such people, they were, for some reason, not represented in the group that passed judgment on Dr. Kay.
7. The academic community outside the University of Arizona is very much aware of this case, and is distressed at the way in which Dr. Kay's case has been dealt with. The final disposition of Dr. Kay's situation will certainly be a significant factor when potential faculty may be considering a move to the University of Arizona. I also believe that funding agencies will be concerned with the ability of the University of Arizona to monitor the integrity of its faculty in a fair, impartial and expeditious manner, unsullied by any taint of feuds or personal conflicts.