Candidate rector Petra De Sutter after accusations Carl Devos: « We must take every report of cross-border behavior seriously »

In a book that appears on Wednesday, it is suggested that UGent has wiped out a matter of cross -border behavior with a doctoral student. It would be about facts committed by Carl Devos in 2011. In 2014, reports would also have been made.

Devos denies the accusations and announced through his lawyer that he is taking legal action. De Sutter does not speak out about the specific matter, but previously previously invented in an interview on the need for a performance and human disciplinary policy.

« We put cross-border behavior as the subject at the top of our to-do list as soon as we get the mandate, » she repeats after the news about Devos. She acknowledges that a new disciplinary policy has been installed in recent years, including by Rector Rik van de Walle. « It is good that we have (renewed) procedures today, although it has to be much faster and more efficient. »

It is striking that the candidate vice-rector of De Sutter, Herwig Reynaert, was then dean of the Faculty of Carl Devos. « He did what he had to and could do, » she wants to say about it. « But at the time there was no procedure in case of reports without a complaint. She worked on that in 2016, » said De Sutter. « Herwig immediately transferred the report to the rector at the time. »