A student at the University of Rochester in New York has gone on a hunger strike until a professor accused of sexual harassment is fired.
As of midnight on Saturday, Lindsay Wrobel had not eaten in three days in protest over university professor Dr Florian Jaeger’s employment.
Eleven students and some staff members have accused Jaeger of stalking, using his power to have sex with students and creating a hostile environment. They also claim he has allegedly hosted hot tub parties involving drugs.
Student Lindsay Wrobel has vowed to remain on a hunger strike until University of Rochester professor Dr Florian Jaeger is fired
An Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint has been filed against the university in relation to the allegations against Jaeger after a previous investigation ruled he had not violated university policy.
‘I fully intend to do this until I’m hospitalized,’ Wrobel told 13WHAM of her hunger strike.
Eleven students and some staff members have accused Dr Florian Jaeger of stalking, using his power to have sex with students and creating a hostile environment
‘I think what’s of primary importance is the students on this campus feeling safe. As of right now, they don’t, and they won’t until Professor Jaeger is removed.’
An anonymous person called 911 on Saturday afternoon to report that Wrobel needed medical attention for her deteriorating condition.
She refused medical help.
‘It is painful, it is scary thinking about what comes next,’ Wrobel said.
‘I’ve had nausea. I’ve had headaches, I’ve had muscle aches really bad. Even texting feels like work.’
Jaeger, who is a professor with the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, revealed last week he would not teach his classes this semester due to the backlash.
An online petition has been circulating calling for his resignation and 150 students protested at the university last week over the handling of the sexual harassment allegations.
An EEOC complaint has been filed against the university in relation to the allegations against Jaeger after a previous investigation ruled he had not violated university policy
An online petition (above) has been circulating calling for his resignation and 150 students protested at the university last week over the handling of the sexual harassment allegations
The first complaint about Jaeger’s alleged behavior dates back to 2013. A senior faculty member made an official complaint in March 2016 after being made aware of the allegations.
An internal university investigation found no evidence that Jaeger had violated university policies.
University President Joel Seligman said some of the allegations in the EEOC complaint were new and were not part of the original investigation.
He said an outside investigator would be hired to look into the allegations.
Seligman added that he had been in touch with Wrobel since her hunger strike.
‘I have been in touch with Lindsay to tell her how concerned I am about her and to let her know that my primary concern is her health. She has every right to express herself as she chooses, but I urged her to put her well-being first. We are carefully monitoring the situation,’ he said.
As of midnight on Saturday, Lindsay Wrobel had not eaten in three days in protest over university professor Dr Florian Jaeger’s employment