After firing and lockout, prof and Wistar friendly again

First he was fired. Then he was rehired. Last month he was locked out. Yesterday, he was allowed back in. The Wistar Institute and Microbiology Professor Lionel Manson have been at odds with each other for years, but it appears that the parties have worked out their differences. For now, anyway. Manson, a former employee of Wistar, was fired two years ago because research he was conducting cast doubts on the effectiveness of antibodies Wistar scientists had patented. The professor tried to block his termination by suing the institute, and although he was not given his job back, he received an economic settlement and was hired by the University. And after returning to the University, Manson frequently returned to Wistar to visit former colleagues. But according to several Wistar and University officials, he had a continuing dispute with Wistar President Hilary Koprowski. And on March 7, the institute barred Manson from entering the the Wistar building, located at 36th and Spruce streets, without giving him any reason. According to a letter Manson wrote to the Almanac, a notice was posted on each entrance of the institute ordering guards to prevent Manson's from getting in. Manson said the guards would not show him a copy of the order or tell him why he was banned from the building. Because Manson's settlement prevents him from discussing aspects of the case, he could not comment on the situation. Giovanni Rovera, the new director of the institute who agreed to allow him back in the building yesterday, said that at first, Manson had no problems entering the institute when visiting colleagues. But Rovera said he heard reports that Manson was not behaving like a visitor -- instead he was using the institute's facilities, including their xerox machines. Normally, Rovera said, thieves, salesmen and people who have abused the facilities are banned from entering the center. But he said that he did not ban Manson from the building and does not know who gave the order. The ban was handed down before he became director. Many Wistar and University officials said the personal dispute is between Manson and Koprowski, the insitute's current president, may have led to the lockout. According to Associate Physical Therapy Professor Elsa Ramsden, Manson was banned from the building because of a disagreement between the two stemming from the earlier court decision. Koprowski declined to comment about the incident. He would only say he did not remember who restricted Manson's access to the building. Rovera said he met with Manson yesterday in an attempt to reach an understanding. "I wanted to diffuse and clean up the issue," Rovera said. "I found that most of the original decision to bar Manson was made on heresay." And Manson seems to be happy with the outcome. "The issue is no longer in existence, and the the new director and I have no new problems," Manson said. "I am no longer barred from the institute, and I can continue my academic pursuits as I always have." Rovera also said he wants to promote a friendly relationship between Wistar and University faculty and stressed that the incident had been directed towards Manson and not University professors. "My personal feeling is that this thing is between Manson and another person," said Rovera. "Manson should focus his anger on the person he wants to fight, not the entire institute." Wistar is a private institute located on the University's campus but is separate from the University. The institute works closely with the University through adjunct faculty and research projects. The University trustees approve the board of members of Wistar.

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