It was the first thought that came to me too. I was lucky enough as a PhD student (mathematics) that I never would have had any doubt that my advisor would have

It was the first thought that came to me too. I was lucky enough as a PhD student (mathematics) that I never would have had any doubt that my advisor would have jumped in and fought on my (really 'our') behalf on something like this. I feel for the author, it sounds like a terrible situation.