Philip Siegel Florida Atlantic University

Fired UW-Eau Claire professor: 'I did show up!'

MADISON — An accounting professor fired for not showing up for a job at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire said Thursday his absence was the result of eye surgery and he planned to work there.

Philip Siegel said he gave up a job at Florida Atlantic University and moved near Eau Claire for the position last summer. He said he had a university office and computer, published papers under the school’s name and went to a national conference for accountants before his contract started in August.

“I did show up!’’ Siegel said in an interview on Thursday from his home in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Siegel, 67, said he needed to have eye surgery on Aug. 18, the day he was supposed to show up for mandatory faculty meetings. He said he notified school officials of the surgery and that he would need a few days to recover. He said he would be ready to teach before the semester started in early September.

On Aug. 21, College of Business Dean Thomas Dock told Siegel his absence was unacceptable and his contract was terminated. The UW System Board of Regents approved the firing during a closed meeting last week.

“I tried to tell them, ‘I want to come to work and teach’,’’ Siegel said. “I don’t know what their problem is. It was, ‘Oh no, you’re fired.’ I’m not out there trying to do anything wrong. This was unbelievable. I had already published two papers with their name on it.’’

The regents’ decision to fire Siegel said he never substantiated claims that he notified the school of his absence despite “ample opportunity to do so.’’ Siegel said university officials never asked for documentation but he decided not to fight his firing because he no longer wants to work there.

D’Arcy Becker, chair of UW-Eau Claire’s department of finance and accounting, said Tuesday that Siegel “just never came to work’’ and never explained why. She also said she learned Siegel was still teaching at Florida Atlantic last semester.

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