Applying for the position of rector of the Medical University of Warsaw, prof. Agnieszka Cudnoch-Jędrzejewska cannot run for office because she has been punished with a disciplinary penalty – said the university's rector, prof. Zbigniew Gaciong. At the same time, he announced that he was withdrawing from running for re-election. Cudnoch-Jędrzejewska stated that she could continue to apply for the most important position at the university because the decision on the penalty imposed on her was not final.
The sequence of events was as follows – two people applied for the position of rector of the Medical University. The first was the current rector, who was to face Professor Agnieszka Cudnoch-Jędrzejewska. The rector will be elected by 200 electors on April 23. On Friday, April 19, the current rector published a statement that greatly complicated the situation.
Professor Gaciong announced that he had decided to punish his opponent with a disciplinary penalty – a warning for a disciplinary offense consisting in violating the dignity of the academic teaching profession. Why? As he explained in a statement, he decided to take this step “due to the findings of the anti-mobbing commission, supported by external legal expertise.”
This, in turn – as the current rector pointed out – means that his rival can no longer apply for the most important position at the university. At the same time, Professor Gaciong announced that he was not running for re-election for the 2024-2028 term. As he noted, he took this step so that he would not be accused of “this is a way to win the rector elections.”
“I have no doubt that the most valuable asset of our University are people, and the greatest investment is teaching respect for other people,” wrote the current rector.
He also emphasized that the Medical University of Warsaw is a place where “any behavior tantamount to mobbing” is unacceptable.
“We are here to educate new generations of doctors who will be responsible for the health and lives of patients in the future. Therefore, it is our duty to set the highest standards and practices in interpersonal relations. I believe in these values and will defend them,” Gaciong wrote.
Statement published on April 19 on the WUM website
“I have not lost the right to apply for the position of rector”
Prof. commented on the rector's statement. Cudnoch-Jędrzejewska:
“First of all, I would like to point out that the declaration contains false information, because – contrary to its content – I have not lost the right to apply for the position of rector of the Medical University of Warsaw on April 19, 2024 (…)” – she wrote.
As she explained, a disciplinary penalty could become the basis for depriving her of the right to run for office after it becomes final – “which has not happened so far.”
“I have the right to appeal against the illegally imposed warning to a common court, which I will do (…) Under the law, I have no criminal record, so I am still a candidate for the position of rector of the Medical University of Warsaw,” she announced.
“The rector punished me four months after learning about the whole case”
Prof. Cudnoch-Jędrzejewska emphasized that before imposing the penalty, she was neither asked for an explanation nor heard by the rector.
“It is worth emphasizing that the Rector punished me with a disciplinary penalty for the alleged offense 4 months after learning about the entire case of potential mobbing and 4 days before the planned vote of electors in the elections for the position of Rector. I hope that this situation has arisen and is misleading. Rector Zbigniew Gaciong's statement will not prevent the Honorable Electors elected by the WUM Academic Community in democratic and properly conducted elections from taking part in the vote scheduled for April 23, 2024. – wrote prof. Cudnoch-Jędrzejewska. bż
Main photo source: Warsaw Medical University