Four UWM teachers found responsible for sexual harassment since 2013 no longer work there
Karen HerzogAt least 22 students have lodged sexual harassment or sexual assault complaints against University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee faculty, instructors, teaching assistants, academic advisers and work supervisors in the past five years.
Four employees in teaching roles with substantiated accusations have since been fired, but it's unclear whether they were fired for other reasons. A fifth employee — an assistant professor accused last year — was referred to his college dean for discipline.
That's according to more than 500 pages of records from 26 sexual harassment cases since 2013 that were released late Tuesday to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and other news outlets in response to requests under the state's open records law.
More student cases are expected to surface once the remaining 14 sexual harassment and assault cases filed during that timeframe are released to news outlets. Those cases are still in the legal notification process for those involved.
No sexual harassment or assault lawsuits were filed during the past five years, the university told the Journal Sentinel.
Internal investigations found 10 of 22 student complaints released so far — including against work supervisors — did have sufficient evidence to back their allegations.
Nine of the 10 cases involved individuals who have since been fired, not had their contract renewed, or were referred to a school dean for discipline, in accordance with university procedures. The 10th case involved a lecturer who had left by the time the finding was made.
Of the four employees in teaching roles who had substantiated cases against them from students, one was a teaching graduate assistant, two were lecturers and one was a staffer who worked in a teaching role.
An academic adviser whose accusations of sexual harassment from three different students in 2014 were substantiated also has been fired.
Records released to news outlets were heavily redacted by the university. Departments, names of accused employees, accusers and witnesses — along with many other key details — were blacked out.
The university said federal law protects student information, and that it also redacted details that could lead to identifying a victim.
The Journal Sentinel filed open records requests with all UW System campuses several months ago, as workplace sexual harassment cases across the country began generating big headlines through the #MeToo protest. Several powerful men in Hollywood and high-profile companies have been fired for their behavior.
UW-Madison released its sexual harassment cases to news media earlier this month.
Universities have unique concerns about sexual harassment and assault cases involving students. The power difference between students and university employees who teach, advise or supervise them can compromise their ability to reject unwanted sexual harassment or sexual activity.
One investigative record in the UWM cases noted:
"(The accused) should have been a model of professionalism for the students in his class rather than creating, encouraging or allowing a sexualized atmosphere."
A teaching assistant graduate student in 2013 was kicked out of his program and banned from ever studying or working again at UWM after he joked in a sexual manner with students he taught in a lab. He also commented on their physical appearance.
The graduate student acknowledged he gave his students nicknames such as "blondie," "chipmunk" and "nipples." But he said they accepted and used the nicknames, and he did not believe they were offended.
The graduate student said he called one women "blondie" because when he asked why she asked so many questions, she said it was because she's blonde. He nicknamed another female student "chipmunk" because he said she had a high, sharp voice; not because she had buck teeth.
A third female student was given the nickname "nipples" after she said a cell viewed through a microscope looked like a nipple. He provided an email in which she referred to herself as "nipples."
In 2014, multiple students complained that a visiting instructor in the College of Health Sciences used sexually charged and offensive language during class.
Specifically, students reported to college administrators through course evaluations that the instructor used at least two offensive acronyms/mnemonic devices to describe anatomical structures of the body.
Those mnemonic devices were: My Auntie Raped My Uncle, and I Twice Got Laid On Fridays.
When the Office of Equity/Diversity Services randomly selected students in the class to ask about the instructor's behavior, some further alleged that he said he wished he got laid twice on Fridays. One student wrote in the course evaluation that the instructor suggested "ladies can improve sexual health and pleasure by engaging in pelvic exercises."
Additionally, the instructor used students in his class as live models, and would "palpate" them or examine parts of their bodies by touch.
Investigators concluded that while the instructor's behavior was offensive, inappropriate and unprofessional, there was insufficient evidence that he created a hostile learning environment. The investigation recommendation was that he be warned about the behavior and receive sexual harassment training.
The instructor challenged the findings and accused college administrators of "political" motivations.
In another 2014 case, a lecturer who later left the university was accused of having a sexual relationship with a student enrolled in his class, and of giving her a higher grade than she earned.
The student declined to participate in the investigation.
The lecturer told investigators that female students often flooded his office hours. He said there was mutual flirting, and that he and some of the students exchanged Snapchat messages with jokes and images of a sexual nature.
One female student sent a drawing of a penis, according to the lecturer.
He said he did not send sexual pictures to them — just things like flowers and stars. Most of the Snapchat exchanges occurred after the course ended, and any flirting and sexual messaging was mutual, he said.
The lecturer acknowledged a sexual relationship with one female student. But he said the relationship began after the semester ended, and that because of the timing, it did not affect her grade.
The university's investigation concluded that the lecturer was involved with the student while she was in his class, and that he adjusted her grade beyond what she earned.
The investigation "could not conclude that the instructor engaged in sexual harassment," records said. "However, even assuming that this behavior does not constitute harassment under the Policy, it is still entirely unacceptable for an instructor."
Had the instructor not already left the university, he could have been fired or required to take sexual harassment training, the investigation concluded.
In 2017, an associate professor was accused of engaging in non-consensual sexual intercourse with a potential graduate student applicant from another institution while they were at a professional conference in 2011.
The professor acknowledged a power differential between himself and the student. The case was referred to his college dean for further investigation.
UWM was notified in 2013 about a sexual assault allegation at another university against a former UWM professor, but UWM reported it did not have any formal complaints against the professor while he worked there.
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UWM Chancellor Mark Mone said in a statement released Wednesday that the university wants all students and employees to feel comfortable discussing and reporting sexual harassment and misconduct.
"We are a diverse, respectful and supportive community. These are values that we expect all members of our campus community to honor and live by," Mone said.
"When violations are found, cases will be referred to our disciplinary process," the chancellor said. "Even when incidents do not violate our policies, there may still be opportunities for training and education to help employees understand the impact of behavior that makes others uncomfortable.”
All employees, students and student workers completed online training last year to help raise awareness of sexual violence, discrimination and harassment, UWM spokeswoman Michelle Johnson said.
They will complete refresher training each year, and all incoming students will receive training, she said.
"We know this may result in more reports, but we want people to report bad behavior, even when it doesn’t meet the legal definition of harassment, because that information lets us take action," Johnson said.