Review panel to begin probing plagiarism claims against Poshard

CARBONDALE -- One of the people tapped to probe allegations that the president of Southern Illinois University plagiarized says the group will meet for the first time Wednesday.

David Worrells says he doesn't believe the seven-person panel will be swayed by any outside influences as it looks into the master's thesis and doctoral dissertation written by Glenn Poshard.

Worrells is an associate professor of aviation management at SIU in Carbondale, and he says everyone on the committee is tenured and has academic freedom.

Wednesday's meeting apparently will be closed to the public.

Poshard has denied he plagiarized and says he won't resign.