Professor Accused of Making Students Watch Dogs, be Waiters

The University of Missouri-Kansas City is expanding its investigation of a professor after a Kansas City Star story revealed allegations that he coerced students to perform personal favors, including watching his dog and acting as waiters and busboys.

The Star reported Sunday that School of Pharmacy professor Ashim Mitra, an Indian immigrant, made the demands exclusively of Ph.D. candidates from India who were in the U.S. on student visas.

Mitra has denied wrongdoing.

Some students told The Star that they performed the work because Mitra, who had brought the university millions of dollars in research grants, had the power to force them out of school, which would mean they would lose their visas.