A Ferris State University marketing professor, Sumith Gunasekera, has been dismissed for misconduct following his recent arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The university confirmed this decision on December 11, without providing further details on the personnel matter.
Details of the Dismissal
According to Dave Murray, the associate vice president for marketing and communications at Ferris State, commenting on personnel issues is “inappropriate.” Documents reveal that Gunasekera’s termination followed a hearing he did not attend. The hearing was convened to assess whether he had violated university policies by providing misleading information regarding his employment application and leave of absence.
Background on Sumith Gunasekera
Gunasekera was arrested by ICE officers on November 12, with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announcing the arrest on November 25. His situation came to light when Ferris State leaders became aware of the allegations surrounding him.
Criminal History
Gunasekera entered the United States in February 1998. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Canada, where he faced legal issues. In August 1998, he was arrested in Brampton, Ontario, for making death threats and later for charges involving sexual misconduct with a minor. His conviction in November 1998 resulted in one month of incarceration and a year of probation. Additionally, he was arrested in September 2003 in Las Vegas for open and gross lewdness, subsequently convicted of disorderly conduct in January 2004.
Educational Background
- Bachelor’s degree in Physics: University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Ph.D. in Statistics: University of Nevada
Similar Arrests
The incident involving Gunasekera is part of a larger pattern of actions taken by ICE against university faculty. Recently, another arrest involved a visiting law professor from Harvard University who faced deportation due to legal issues arising from an incident during a Jewish holiday.
As these events unfold, the implications for the academic community, particularly regarding faculty immigration status and university policies, continue to be significant. El-Balad will monitor and report on any developments related to these cases.
