Well-known figures sign appeal over NTU lecturer

They urge university to reconsider Cherian George's tenure application

Nearly 100 well-known academics, artists, and civil activists have penned an open letter to the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) asking it to reconsider a tenure application by a prominent professor.

This comes as Dr Cherian George, 47, is likely to leave the school within a year after being denied tenure a second time.

The letter, posted online yesterday, said the rejection of Dr George's tenure application "raises important concerns regarding the place of Singapore's universities in fostering independent discourse in and about our society".

It affirmed Dr George's intellectual contributions, such as his books, journal articles and work as head of the Temasek Foundation-NTU Asia Journalism Fellowship.