Blacklisted: More than 400 professors from across the country and around the world have signed an open letter urging students to boycott the University of Rochester over its handling of a sexual harassment case involving brain researcher Florida Jaeger (pictured)
Hundreds of professors from across the country and around the world have signed an open letter urging students to boycott the University of Rochester in upstate New York over its handling of a sexual harassment case involving a top brain researcher.
In their 21-page missive addressed to the University of Rochester trustees, more than 400 faculty members at such prestigious institutions as Harvard, Yale, Brown and MIT accused UR President Joel Seligman of failing to ‘adequately respond to claims of predatory and manipulative behavior’ that were made agaisnt Dr Florian Jaeger, a researcher in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences.
In September, seven current and former faculty members and a graduate student filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, claiming administrators mishandled allegations against Jaeger, who was cleared of wrongdoing, and then retaliated against them for reporting the behavior.
‘Instead of protecting individuals who came forward and enforcing the University’s values, the administration sought to diminish the reported events and created a hostile environment for the victims, their advocates and many other members of the campus community,’ the open letter published last week states.
Damage control: The University of Rochester in New York responded by saying it has commissioned an independent investigation
‘The UR has abrogated its ultimate responsibility to protect and advance the interests of its most important constituency, its students, by supporting the predator and intimidating the victims and advocates in this case.’
The letter goes on to say: ‘In the present circumstances, we cannot in good conscience encourage our students to pursue educational or employment opportunities at the University of Rochester.’
The EEOC complaint painted Jaeger as a ‘serial harasser’ and a ‘manipulative sexual predator,’ whose lack of boundaries potentially altered the career paths of at least 11 female students.
Under fire: Faculty members at such prestigious institutions as Harvard, Yale, Brown and MIT accused UR President Joel Seligman (pictured) of failing to ‘adequately respond to claims of predatory behavior’
‘He charmed, manipulated and sometimes threatened them, becoming gatekeeper to important social and professional opportunities,’ the complaint alleged. ‘He flaunted numerous sexual relationships in front of graduate students, used constant and overt sexual language and behaved flirtatiously and overly familiarly with women students, including when he knew he was making the women feel unsafe.’
Faculty member Celeste Kidd said she was a graduate student recruit when Jaeger began a lengthy pattern of inappropriate electronic and in-person exchanges.
The researcher also allegedly hosted hot tub parties, used illegal drugs with students and sent a photo of his genitals to a student, according to the complaint cited by CBS News.
In 2016, two faculty members reported Jaeger’s behavior to administrators. During an investigation that ultimately exonerated Jaeger, he was promoted to full professor.
President Seligman said the investigation, which included interviews with more than 30 people, determined there was no evidence to support a finding that university policy had been violated.
The faculty members who filed the complaint with the EEOC claimed the university has retaliated agaisnt them for accusing Jaeger of sexual misconduct in the first place by creating ‘a hostile environment for them so toxic that they are no longer welcome in their own department. They are treated as troublemakers and liars.’
Student Lindsay Wrobel in September went on a six-day hunger strike over the allegations agaisnt Jaeger
The sexual misconduct accusations against Jaeger sparked protests, calls for the resignation of top administrators, vows by alumni to stop donations and even a hunger strike by senior Lindsay Wrobel, which lasted six days.
On Tuesday, the University of Rochester released a statement addressing what it called the ‘Blacklisting’ letter, defending its handling of the Jaeger case.
‘When complaints were brought to the attention of the administration, the University immediately launched an internal investigation, conducting more than 40 interviews and making every reasonable effort to contact anyone directly involved,’ UR spokesperson Sara Miller wrote.
The statement goes on to say that ‘given new allegations in the EEOC complaint,’ the university has commissioned an independent investigation, which is being carried out by Mary Jo White, a former US Attorney for the Southern District of New York and SEC chair.
White will be given ‘unfettered access’ to all witnesses and documents, and will be able to produce a report independent from the university or the Board of Trustees.
‘The fact is that many students, faculty, and administrators at the University do not recognize the institution described in the letter circulating on the internet,’ the press release says.
‘They are proud of our school and find it to be a welcoming and supportive learning environment. It is regrettable that the letter is signed by many people who do not have direct knowledge of the actual circumstances here.’