Arnved Nedkvitne loses lawsuit against the University of Oslo

A fired professor of medieval history who sued the University of Oslo for wrongful dismissal has lost his case. Arnved Nedkvitne was sacked by the university's academic senate last year. His claim was to regain his tenured professorship and compensation for loss of income but he lost on both issues and was also ordered to pay 23 000 euros in costs.

The reason for the firing was alleged harassment of colleagues over several years, sending them emails in protest at budget cuts to the research group in medieval history and a repeated refusal to meet with department leaders for discussion of his behavior.

On 29 January, the court decided the termination by the senate was valid. Nedkvitne told the university newsletter that he was disappointed by the result, but was satisfied at having created a debate in the media on the process of professors losing power and authority in resource allocation matters at the university. He will not appeal the ruling.

Nedkvitne added that he was afraid that university staff would now be more reluctant to criticise the university.

Click here to see our earlier article: Medieval Professor sues Norweigian government over firing

Medieval Professor sues Norweigian government over firing

A Norweigian court heard five days of testimony earlier this month over a case where a medieval professor is suing the national government to be reinstated in his position or receive compensation over being fired last February.

In this highly publicized case, University of Oslo Professor Arnved Nedkvitne states that he was fired for speaking out against budget cutbacks to the medieval section at the university's Department of Archaeology, Conservation and History. The university claims that he was dismissed after a decade-long email campaign which included personal attacks on other historians in the department and claims of nepotism.

University officials added that Professor Nedkvitne has grossly violated his duties for several years, despite written warnings and reprimands.

Nedkvitne defended his emails and comments, saying that he had to right to protect the research being done by medievalists at the university. "It is almost impossible for us professors to put forward our views," he said. "I am used to academic professors being able to compromise with one another. Today things are more authoritarian, it is individuals who are taking the decisions."

He is now suing the Norwegian government, which funds and oversees all universities in the country. Nedkvitne is being supported by the Union of Norwegian Researchers as well as many other academics who believe his firing is a threat to academic freedom.

The court heard testimony from former rectors, deans, colleagues, doctoral candidates and students. Many defended Nedkvitne's rights to freedom of speech as a basic principle in academia.

The most bizarre piece of information was presented by a previous pro-rector, Professor Haakon Breien Benestad, who had himself been involved in mediation. Benestad then received a letter from his superior, the rector, stating that if he did not keep out of the conflict, he would risk losing his own position.

"Does that mean he would have had you sacked?" the defence lawyer asked. "Yes", was the answer.

A judgement is expected in mid-February.

Arnved Nedkvitne has beena history professor at the University of Oslo since 1993, and was also a professor at the University of Trondheim. He is now registered as a student at the university so as to continue to have access to library services and computer facilities. His research focuses on medieval trade relations as well as literacy and beliefs in medieval Scandinavia.