In his letter, Sheehan contends that theinvestigation may even result in the revocation ofMack's tenure.

But according to Medical School press officerKeren R. McGinity, "Dr. Mack states thatrepresentations made about his involvement in aninquiry process are both unauthorized andinaccurate."

Roderick MacLeish, Jr., Mack's current legalcounsel, who refers to himself as "Dr. Mack's solelawyer," said in an interview last week thatSheehan was not authorized to send out the letter.

George Lamb, an associate of one of Mack'sbenefactors, said Sheehan's unauthorized behaviormay have caused the termination of his legalrelationship with Mack.

"I understand that Sheehan had spoken out ofturn and their company parted," Lamb said.

The source requesting anonymity also challengedthe reliability of Sheehan's statements andinterpretations. The source said, "the committeewas convened by Dean Tosteson as an ad hocfact-finding committee, not as part of adisciplinary or misconduct committee."

Yet despite claims the committee exists solelyfor purpose of "fact finding," a furor over thecommittee's existence still persists amongacademicians and ufologists--those who study UFOs.

"My guess is that this [fact finding] is notreally what is happening," said David Jacobs,associate professor of history at TempleUniversity. "Fact finding is a very neutral kindof phrase," said Jacobs, who teaches a coursecalled "UFOs and America Society."

The secret investigation raises questions aboutacademic freedom, the existence of UFOs and whatconstitutes legitimate research among Harvardfaculty.

Some interviewed have speculated that thecommittee was formed because the Medical schoolregarded Mack as an embarrassment while otherssaid faculty members may have questioned thevalidity of his research methodology.

"I think it was threatening for some of thepeople on the Medical School faculty to have oneof their own publishing this book, going on TV andtalking about this very weird phenomenon," Millersaid.

Questioning the credibility of faculty studyingunconventional subject is not unprecedented.Jacobs, who also studies UFOs and the abductionphenomenon, said, "Temple University considers meto be an embarrassment also."

"If I continue with I'm doing I will never bepromoted to full professor--ever, no matter howmany books I write or how many publications Imake," he said. "The academics are extremelyconservative when it comes to this kind of area."

According to Beverly A. Rubik, director of theCenter for Frontier Sciences at Temple University,"Whether you're a young assistant professor or atenured professor, if you ask unconventional, boldquestions, you're going to find great oppositionfrom the Church of science."

Sheehan's unauthorized and allegedly inaccuratemass mailing has caused quite a stir in the UFOcommunity, with respected researchers calling theproceeding a "which hunt."