UHCL professor arrested, accused of making threats

Christopher Rupley
The Signal
A UHCL professor accused of making terroristic threats was arrested April 9 after a colleague contacted the UHCL Police Department and filed a grievance.

The Texas Penal Code defines a terroristic threat as one that “[places] any person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury.”

Lei Wu, associate professor of software engineering for the School of Science and Computer Engineering, reportedly made threatening remarks during a tenure discussion with his program chair, Sharon White. Wu was subsequently arrested.

White, associate professor of software engineering for SCE, is an acting member of the Peer Review Committee in charge of reviewing Wu’s tenure candidacy. Wu met with White to discuss his tenure review. Because White had lodged a previous complaint against Wu, this time White recorded the conversation.

UHCL Chief of Police Paul Willingham stated that White was advised not to contact Wu after she lodged an initial complaint against him with the police department April 2. During the April 2 tenure discussion, Wu expressed concern about how slow the tenure process was and stated that not getting his tenure would be a strain on his marriage.

“There is a lot of history between the two that is beyond this specific threat as it relates not just to the tenure, but even before that, that is actually related to why it is being grieved,” Willingham said. “There is some personal history between the two.”

White ignored the request from the UHCL Police Department to stay away from Wu and had a tape recorder ready for their next encounter.

The UHCL Police Report states that Wu purportedly made remarks to White such as “both will be blood,” and “it will be bad for either.”

Wu’s defense team was present at his initial court date April 16 at the Harris County Court at Law Number Four. The defense team included Michael Turner and son Christopher Turner, of the Turner Law Office in Baytown, Texas.

Wu maintains his innocence and offers a different account of the conversation that ultimately led to his arrest.

“Soon you will hear the truth,” Wu said. “The fact is Sharon White came to my office with the tape recorder. The judge will decide what was said when he has listened to the tape, not by what Sharon White claimed. The news only used one source. Justice will prevail.”

The “news” that Wu refers to includes a broadcast report on Channel 2 News and an article published in the Houston Chronicle.

Repeated attempts to contact White were unsuccessful. A county clerk verified that William E. Mejia, Harris County assistant district attorney, is prosecuting the case against Wu.

Stuart Larson, associate professor of graphic design for the School of Humanities and Human Sciences and mentor for new faculty members seeking tenure at UHCL, previously served on a gaming committee with both professors.

Larson’s view of the tenure process is unique because he was part of the HSH initiative started to guide new faculty members toward tenure.

“It can definitely be very stressful,” Larson said. “School does not prepare you for what the tenure process involves. The University of Houston-Clear Lake is far more supportive of faculty getting tenure than any other academic institution. We have the mentoring program and we’re always trying to improve the guidelines for what is required to get tenure.”

Larson has worked with both professors in the past.

“I’ve known Sharon White for a long time,” Larson said. “She has always been very professional and insightful. She is willing to work with people and programs outside of software engineering.

“Professor Wu and I interacted at the gaming committee. That was the first time I met Dr. Wu. He was working on a robotic arm to pick tomatoes.”

UHCL has limited Wu’s access to the university until the case against him has been resolved. He is allowed on campus to teach his classes, but he is not allowed on campus for any other reason while the case against him is ongoing.

Willingham is adamant that the university is under no imminent terroristic threat.

“He is allowed to teach the rest of his classes,” Willingham said. “We do not feel that there is a threat to the campus based upon our threat assessment. Otherwise he wouldn’t be here.”