Boulder, CO (1010 WINS)  -- The top official at the University of Colorado's flagship campus said Monday he intends to fire Ward Churchill, the firebrand professor who compared some of the World Trade Center victims to a Nazi and then landed in hot water over allegations of academic misconduct.

Churchill displayed ``a pattern of research misconduct committed over a period of time,'' Interim Chancellor Philip DiStefano said.

Churchill has 10 days to appeal the decision to a faculty committee, DiStefano said. Churchill, a tenured professor of ethnic studies, has denied allegations of plagiarism and other misconduct and has said he would file suit if fired.

Churchill did not immediately return telephone messages.

In an essay written shortly after the 2001 attacks, Churchill described some of the victims in the World Trade Center as ``little Eichmanns,'' a reference to Holocaust architect Adolf Eichmann. The essay was largely ignored until January 2005, when they came to light before Churchill was to speak at Hamilton College in upstate New York.

The essay triggered an outcry and a debate over academic freedom. University officials concluded he could not be dismissed because of free speech protections, but they did order an investigation into allegations of academic misconduct, which formally concluded two weeks ago.

The school's committee on research misconduct said Churchill ``has committed serious, repeated, and deliberate research misconduct.''

DiStefano agreed and said he has told Churchill he plans to dismiss him.

University officials said Churchill had been relieved of all academic work including teaching and work on committees but will remain a paid faculty member as long as the firing is in the appeals process.

Churchill is currently on a leave and is not teaching any classes.

DiStefano said the firing was not an attack on academic freedom.

``One of our most cherished principals is academic freedom, but with freedom comes responsibility,'' he said.

DiStefano said he did not think firing Churchill would have a chilling effect on other professors who follow research guidelines.

``I think they will continue to write about controversial subjects. I think that's what a university is about,'' he said.