Retired Leiden University professor is a prominent archaeologist

Leiden University wants to dismiss a leading professor of archeology after “long-term” undesirable and “often transgressive” behavior. It is the second time in a short time that the university has removed a prominent professor due to inappropriate behavior. Various sources confirm NRC that this time it concerns the acclaimed professor of archeology Corinne Hofman.

The university itself does not mention the names of those involved. This is because of “careful employment practices” and privacy legislation, according to board president Annetje Ottow. According to the university, the professor was guilty of “abuse of power and manipulation”. That led to “a culture of fear among employees” who were “largely dependent on her.”

According to the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Corinne Hofman is “one of the most prominent archaeologists in the world.” She is considered an authority in Caribbean archeology and has conducted research on the island of Saba, among other places. She has been associated with Leiden University for three decades, as a professor since 2007. In 2014 she received the Spinoza Prize, the highest Dutch scientific award. She also held administrative positions, including being dean of the faculty of archeology between 2013 and 2018.

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Socially undesirable behavior

In October 2022, the university forced a well-known astronomy professor to leave after he had been guilty of intimidating and undesirable behavior for “several years”. In his case, this included sexual misconduct against female colleagues. Not enough was done with previous signals that something was wrong, Leiden Executive Board President Annetje Ottow acknowledged to NRC at the time. “They have not been taken seriously enough and have not been addressed seriously enough.”

There was no question of sexually transgressive behavior in the case that has now become known, Ottow emphatically states. Not even plagiarism. However, the professor was guilty of “socially undesirable behavior”, together with her life partner, a colleague and former employee of the University.

Ottow speaks of intimidation, discrimination, manipulation, shouting and bullying. The two are also said to have abused their position of power and openly questioned the quality of employees.

A total of nineteen people have reported, including PhD candidates and students, who worked with Hofman or her partner in the period 1990-2023. “The majority of the reports concern incidents from (many) years ago,” says Ottow. When asked, the chairman of the board said that “the administrative positions that the defendant had made reporting difficult.”

Hofman received the Spinoza Prize and was dean of the faculty of archaeology

From autumn 2023, a committee set up by the university board, described by Ottow as “independent”, investigated the reports received through the current dean of the faculty of archaeology. The committee was led by associate professor of employment law Yvonne Erkens.

According to the investigative committee, it is “plausible” that Hofman and her partner also “violated scientific integrity”. They allegedly did this by “gaining access to data of other employees and monopolizing (access to) data.” According to the researchers, it is also “plausible” that the duo appropriated research material from third parties without the required permission. Ottow: “This behavior also counts as a violation of scientific integrity.”

When asked what is meant by “plausible,” Ottow states that “hard evidence in these types of cases is limited, according to the investigative committee.” According to the chairman of the board, this is “partly in the nature of the matter.” “This concerns alleged undesirable behavior in the form of verbal conversation situations and interactions of which there is no documentation.”

In this case too, “a significant part of the events” are “in the distant past,” according to Ottow. She points out that the investigative committee has tested “as many statements as possible against (possibly available) documentation.”

Dismiss ‘as soon as possible’

Following the findings, the university board has started a procedure to dismiss the professor “as soon as possible”. “If this is honored by the (subdistrict) judge, the employee involved will no longer be allowed to use the title of professor and will no longer be allowed to supervise PhD students.” Her partner, a former university lecturer and researcher, is also no longer welcome at the university.

Ottow speaks of “a nasty case” that “has shocked” the university board. She is “relieved” that the reports have been made. “As a result, we were able to take firm action.”

According to her, the fact that there is another case of long-term transgressive behavior at her university has to do with the course taken for a safe working environment and with the spirit of the times. “In the past, reporting was more difficult than it is now. Thresholds were higher than is now (fortunately) the case.” Improving social safety “is and remains” a spearhead, says Ottow. “The sense of urgency is stronger than ever after this case.”

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