Eighteen cases involving different types of harassment, discrimination and violations of the consensual relationship policy between students and campus employees were reported between 2014-17 at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.
The news broke Jan. 29 when Karen Herzog of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published an article stating there have been nearly 100 complaints of employee sexual misconduct among the entire UW System since 2014.
According to open records, among the 18 reported cases at UWO, sexual harassment was listed as an allegation type for 12 of them. Six were listed as gender harassment and four as a violation of the consensual relationship policy.
In one case from 2017, the respondent, a supervisor or instructional employee, was accused of sexual harassment, discrimination of gender, harassment of gender and retaliation.
According to the open record, the “employee alleged to have sexually harassed complainant, complainant reported to supervisor, and supervisor terminated employee in retaliation.”
The findings state there was no violation of University policy and a financial settlement was made.
According to the open record, “A complaint was made that included allegations of sexual harassment. An investigation was conducted and the allegations were not found to have merit. However, in order to resolve pending litigation and to allow the department to move forward, a settlement was reached by the parties.”
In three of the 18 cases reported at UWO, the accused resigned or was terminated.
The first case came from 2014 when an “employee is alleged to have engaged in a consensual relationship with a student, and subsequently harassing the student when she attempted to end the relationship.” The instructional faculty member voluntarily resigned.
In the second case, which took place in 2017, the University staff member “alleged to make unwanted sexual advances to several subordinate employees and inappropriate sexual comments.” The employee resigned in lieu of termination.
Also taking place in 2017, the third case described the “employee alleged to have sexually assaulted and made unwanted sexual advances towards a student. Sexual assault allegations were unsubstantiated.” The academic staff supervisor was terminated.
In the remaining 15 cases, no action was taken, training was recommended, policy was discussed or the action taken is still unknown.
UWO Chancellor Andrew Leavitt addressed the article that ran in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in an email on Jan. 31.
“As reports detailed, every substantiated case of harassment or assault since 2014 involving UW Oshkosh faculty or staff members found to be in violation of University policies resulted in either a resignation or a termination of the perpetrator,” Leavitt said.
