Dr. Sabina Burton, a dedicated tenured faculty member of UW Platteville Criminal Justice Department, faced a severe miscarriage of justice when she was dismissed from her position. What started as a report of sexual harassment of a female student by a male professor turned into an ordeal plagued with procedural flaws and apparent biases. Dr. Burton's efforts to advocate for her student led to retaliation against the tenured faculty member, led to violations of her due process rights. Her grievances were not heard and her appeal, meant to be a fair opportunity to present her case, was reduced to a mere formality — a sham hearing that deprived her of justice and undermined her rights.

The heart of any academic institution should be fairness and transparency. However, the handling of Dr. Burton’s case was neither. Evidence points to the fact that her grievances were not given the due diligence they deserved. This is not just about Dr. Burton; it's about restoring the integrity and credibility of our educational institutions, where faculty and students alike must feel secure and protected.

We urge the University of Wisconsin Platteville's Faculty Senate to spearhead an in-depth and impartial investigation into the handling of Dr. Sabina Burton’s grievances and subsequent dismissal. For the investigation to be credible, it must be transparent and involve no parties with any financial interest related to the outcome.

To ensure fairness, the investigation body should be constituted through a democratic process per UWS 4 guidelines, allowing the Faculty Senate to vote on the formation of the committee members. Openness is crucial; thus, proceedings should be accessible to the public. Only through such transparent processes can we restore faith in the university's commitment to justice and accountability.

The faculty senate should send their findings to the current Chancellor and the Chancellor should then send a recommendation to the UW System Board of Regents requesting that Dr. Burton be reinstated to her former position. The Board of Regents should reinstate Dr. Burton, with back pay. All of the documents of this matter should be published on UW Platteville's website with a conspicuous link on the homepage directing the public to the proceeding schedules and outcomes of the matter. This issue should be resolved by the time school lets out for summer break, 2026. It needs to be a priority issue for UW Platteville and the UW System, and the public needs to be invited to attend all proceedings.

More information about Dr. Burton’s situation can be found at UniversityCorruption.com, a site dedicated to shedding light on such matters. Corruption and injustice have no place in our universities. It's time for action, and we need your support to make it happen.

Please sign this petition to demand a fair and thorough investigation into Dr. Sabina Burton's case, that she be reinstated with back pay, and to uphold the standards of justice within our academic institutions.