Sociologist Alfred Bulai was suspended on tuesday from all teaching activities, as well as from all positions he holds within SNSPA: director of the Sociology Department at the Faculty of Political Science, member of the Faculty of Political Science Council, and member of the SNSPA Senate.
The Senate of the National School of Political and Administrative Studies (SNSPA) decided that the measure should be instituted for the duration of the Ethics Committee investigation procedure.
The sociologist is accused by several female students of sexual harassment.
SNSPA specifies that there has never been a complaint against Alfred Bulai filed with the Dean's Office of the Faculty of Political Science, the Ethics Committee, or any other instances within SNSPA.
Furthermore, the rector of SNSPA has requested the Faculty of Political Science, where Professor Bulai carried out his activities, to provide the Ethics Committee with all available information for full transparency in this case.
"We urge those who claim that 'it was known' to address institutionally SNSPA or any other institution of the Romanian State (police, prosecution, etc.), to clarify this aspect in the 'Bulai case' or any other possible case.
SNSPA had a preliminary discussion yesterday, July 29, 2024, with representatives of the investigative bodies regarding the initiation of a criminal investigation. As more information is gathered at the SNSPA level, it will also be transmitted to the Police," according to a statement from SNSPA.
Regarding the retirement request submitted by Alfred Bulai, SNSPA emphasizes that two mentions are necessary:
- retirement is a unilateral act of the employee and does not need to be "approved" by the employing institution. The retirement decision is issued by the Pension House, not by the employer. Therefore, SNSPA will acknowledge the employee's decision to terminate the individual employment contract, starting from October 1, 2024;
- the termination of the employment contract following retirement will not block or suspend the activity of the SNSPA Ethics Committee. The Committee will carry out the legal procedures, even during the summer, with or without the participation of the accused person. It is important not only to establish the facts and apply legal sanctions but also to understand why there have been no formal complaints in all these years, in accordance with existing procedures and legislation.
What accusations are brought against Alfred Bulai
Sociologist Alfred Bulai is accused by several female students of asking them to undress in front of him.
Everything allegedly happened during the internship period, in the room where the professor was accommodated, where he called the students to provide them with academic feedback, according to the investigative site Snoop.
Several girls agreed to discuss, on video, with Snoop, who specifies that they documented the case for 4 months, analyzed the recordings, and obtained testimonies from 18 people.
The investigative site presents accounts from students who do not know each other about nearly identical abuses they were subjected to and states that Bulai perfected his technique over almost 30 years.
After the investigation was published, Alfred Bulai submitted his retirement request. He stated for TVR that he will make a statement only after presenting his position to the SNSPA Ethics Committee.
Alfred Bulai is being investigated by the Bucharest Police for the misuse of his position for sexual purposes.