MUN prof Ranee Panjabi explains why she wouldn't teach hard-of-hearing student William Sears

Ranee Panjabi, the Memorial University professor accused of discriminating against a hard-of-hearing student, says a centre that helps disabled students failed to notify her about William Sears before the two met in a St. John's classroom this month.

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Sears took his complaints about Panjabi public after she refused to wear an FM transmitter while she taught her history of espionage course.

Panjabi hand-delivered a three-page written statement Thursday morning to CBC that explains her side of the controversy — which has attracted international attention about accommodating students in the classroom — and says she has been treated terribly.

"In these days of instantaneous communication, conclusions drawn with no prior thought or reflection, I was reviled, vilified, abused, threatened and subject to a display of a lynch mob, a witch hunt and a three-ring circus," Panjabi wrote.

"I think that at the moment, given what I have gone through in the last few days, I really need a little breather," Panjabi said, declining a full-length interview. "I have said what I need to say, and I think that's all I really want to say."

In her statement, Panjabi said she had not been informed of Sears's needs in advance of the Sept. 10 class by the Blundon Centre, a university-run service that works with disabled students.

"I was blindsided by the manager of the Blundon Centre who apparently did not inform the student either that my courses were taught in a unique, innovative manner and some advance setup time would prepare everyone involved for his full participation in the course," Panjabi wrote.

Panjabi told CBC News that she had had contact with the Blundon Centre, but "I received the invitation after the situation had erupted. I received their information, but not sufficiently."

Sears, however, has produced emails between himself and the Blundon Centre that show Panjabi had not responded to the centre's emails about Sears's requirements.

When asked for comment on the Blundon Centre's communications with Panjabi, Memorial University president Gary Kachanoski said in a brief statement that the administration is conducting an internal review.

"We expect the review will happen quickly and it will be transparent in its findings, while respecting individual privacy as dictated by legislation," Kachanoski wrote.

Panjabi accuses student of 'selective amnesia' 

Panjabi said she also explained to Sears on Sept. 10 that she does not put FM transmitters on her person for religious reasons — she has in the past cited mysticism rooted in her Hindu beliefs — and that she had a legally binding agreement with the university.

Memorial is now reviewing that 1996 agreement, which the university signed so that Panjabi would withdraw a human rights complaint.

In the statement, Panjabi said Sears's version of events from Sept. 10 "regretfully displayed flashes of selective amnesia."

Panjabi said another accommodation could have been reached for Sears that would have "required just about an hour of the student's time with our technical experts at Memorial."

Student 'walked out'

On their first meeting in class, Panjabi said she was "surprised" when Sears asked her to wear the transmitter to lecture, as they had been able to have a face-to-face conversation without using it.

She said she explained to Sears that she would not use the device, but she could look for alternatives. She wrote that "he abruptly said that it was not satisfactory and walked out."

"I was completely taken aback, as I am used to students being courteous enough to listen, not rebuff a discussion in that regrettable manner" Panjabi wrote.

Sears maintains Panjabi, who spoke with the NTV television network on Friday, has distorted what happened in the classroom that day.

Sears, who dropped Panjabi's course, has filed a human rights complaint, while other former students have come out to share similar experiences with the professor.

The university has apologized to Sears and is reviewing the agreement with Panjabi, which Panjabi called an "accord" that "provides for an enhanced learning environment for any hearing-impaired student, while protecting my rights as well."

Meanwhile, Panjabi says she wants to focus on the courses she is teaching.

"I'm trying very hard to keep this thing dignified, and to get on with my job, because my students are what matter," she said.