A Sex-Assault Case Pits Privacy Against Transparency

As colleges across the nation grapple with the problem of sexual assault, a case unfolding at the University of Kentucky stands out as particularly complex and troublesome.

A series of articles published in recent months by the Kentucky Kernel, an independent student newspaper, revealed that a Kentucky professor had been accused of sexual harassment and sexual assault before resigning this past August in a quiet settlement with the university.

About This Series

The Chronicle’s On Leadership video series explores various aspects of campus leadership with movers and shakers across academe. The series is hosted by Chronicle editors and reporters. Visit our complete collection of interviews. 

In a tug-of-war with the newspaper, the university released the details of its settlement with James D. Harwood, a former associate professor of entomology, but declined to provide all of the documents associated with its investigation.

The Kernel, which obtained the documents from another source, has written about the investigation but has not revealed the names of the professor’s alleged victims. Mr. Harwood has denied wrongdoing.

The state’s attorney general ordered the university to release its investigative files, but the university appealed that decision. In order to appeal the ruling, a quirk of Kentucky law requires the university to sue the student newspaper.

Although Kentucky’s case is unique, it highlights a host of challenges colleges face as federal authorities and students demand more accountability on the handling of sexual-assault allegations. Eli Capilouto, Kentucky’s president, stopped by The Chronicle's offices this week to talk about the case and the university’s broader efforts to create an environment where victims feel they can safely and confidentially report those crimes.

Transcript coming soon.

Jack Stripling covers college leadership, particularly presidents and governing boards. Follow him on Twitter @jackstripling, or email him at jack.stripling@chronicle.com.

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A Sex-Assault Case Pits Privacy Against Transparency

As colleges across the nation grapple with the problem of sexual assault, a case unfolding at the University of Kentucky stands out as particularly complex and troublesome.

A series of articles published in recent months by the Kentucky Kernel, an independent student newspaper, revealed that a Kentucky professor had been accused of sexual harassment and sexual assault before resigning this past August in a quiet settlement with the university.

About This Series

The Chronicle’s On Leadership video series explores various aspects of campus leadership with movers and shakers across academe. The series is hosted by Chronicle editors and reporters. Visit our complete collection of interviews. 

In a tug-of-war with the newspaper, the university released the details of its settlement with James D. Harwood, a former associate professor of entomology, but declined to provide all of the documents associated with its investigation.

The Kernel, which obtained the documents from another source, has written about the investigation but has not revealed the names of the professor’s alleged victims. Mr. Harwood has denied wrongdoing.

The state’s attorney general ordered the university to release its investigative files, but the university appealed that decision. In order to appeal the ruling, a quirk of Kentucky law requires the university to sue the student newspaper.

Although Kentucky’s case is unique, it highlights a host of challenges colleges face as federal authorities and students demand more accountability on the handling of sexual-assault allegations. Eli Capilouto, Kentucky’s president, stopped by The Chronicle's offices this week to talk about the case and the university’s broader efforts to create an environment where victims feel they can safely and confidentially report those crimes.

Transcript coming soon.

Jack Stripling covers college leadership, particularly presidents and governing boards. Follow him on Twitter @jackstripling, or email him at jack.stripling@chronicle.com.

"

| Sex-Assault | Case | Pits | Privacy | Against | Transparency | span>s | colleges | across | nation | grapple | with | problem | sexual | assault | case | unfolding | University | Kentucky | stands | particularly | complex | troublesome | p> A | series | articles | published | recent | months | Kernel | independent | student | newspaper | revealed | that | professor | been | accused | harassment | before | resigning | this | past | August | quiet | settlement | university | p> < | p>About | This | Series< | h4> The | Chronicle< | em>’s | Leadership | video | explores | various | aspects | campus | leadership | movers | shakers | academe | hosted | editors | reporters | Visit | complete | collection< | strong> | interviews | p> < | div> In | released | details | settlement< | James | Harwood | former | associate | entomology | declined | provide | documents | associated | investigation | p> The | which | obtained | from | another | source | written | about | investigation< | names | professor’s | alleged | victims | denied | wrongdoing | state’s | attorney | general | ordered | release | investigative | files | appealed | decision | order | appeal | ruling | quirk | requires | p> Although | Kentucky’s | unique | highlights | host | challenges | face | federal | authorities | students | demand | more | accountability | handling | allegations | Capilouto | president | stopped | em>s | offices | week | talk | university’s | broader | efforts | create | environment | where | feel | they | safely | confidentially | report | those | crimes | p> Transcript | coming | soon | p> Jack | Stripling | covers | college | presidents | governing | boards | Follow | Twitter | @jackstripling | email | jack | stripling@chronicle | em>< | p> |

Thank Very Much for Visit this Article

A Sex-Assault Case Pits Privacy Against Transparency

As colleges across the nation grapple with the problem of sexual assault, a case unfolding at the University of Kentucky stands out as particularly complex and troublesome.

A series of articles published in recent months by the Kentucky Kernel, an independent student newspaper, revealed that a Kentucky professor had been accused of sexual harassment and sexual assault before resigning this past August in a quiet settlement with the university.

About This Series

The Chronicle’s On Leadership video series explores various aspects of campus leadership with movers and shakers across academe. The series is hosted by Chronicle editors and reporters. Visit our complete collection of interviews. 

In a tug-of-war with the newspaper, the university released the details of its settlement with James D. Harwood, a former associate professor of entomology, but declined to provide all of the documents associated with its investigation.

The Kernel, which obtained the documents from another source, has written about the investigation but has not revealed the names of the professor’s alleged victims. Mr. Harwood has denied wrongdoing.

The state’s attorney general ordered the university to release its investigative files, but the university appealed that decision. In order to appeal the ruling, a quirk of Kentucky law requires the university to sue the student newspaper.

Although Kentucky’s case is unique, it highlights a host of challenges colleges face as federal authorities and students demand more accountability on the handling of sexual-assault allegations. Eli Capilouto, Kentucky’s president, stopped by The Chronicle's offices this week to talk about the case and the university’s broader efforts to create an environment where victims feel they can safely and confidentially report those crimes.

Transcript coming soon.

Jack Stripling covers college leadership, particularly presidents and governing boards. Follow him on Twitter @jackstripling, or email him at jack.stripling@chronicle.com.

"

| Sex-Assault | Case | Pits | Privacy | Against | Transparency | span>s | colleges | across | nation | grapple | with | problem | sexual | assault | case | unfolding | University | Kentucky | stands | particularly | complex | troublesome | p> A | series | articles | published | recent | months | Kernel | independent | student | newspaper | revealed | that | professor | been | accused | harassment | before | resigning | this | past | August | quiet | settlement | university | p> < | p>About | This | Series< | h4> The | Chronicle< | em>’s | Leadership | video | explores | various | aspects | campus | leadership | movers | shakers | academe | hosted | editors | reporters | Visit | complete | collection< | strong> | interviews | p> < | div> In | released | details | settlement< | James | Harwood | former | associate | entomology | declined | provide | documents | associated | investigation | p> The | which | obtained | from | another | source | written | about | investigation< | names | professor’s | alleged | victims | denied | wrongdoing | state’s | attorney | general | ordered | release | investigative | files | appealed | decision | order | appeal | ruling | quirk | requires | p> Although | Kentucky’s | unique | highlights | host | challenges | face | federal | authorities | students | demand | more | accountability | handling | allegations | Capilouto | president | stopped | em>s | offices | week | talk | university’s | broader | efforts | create | environment | where | feel | they | safely | confidentially | report | those | crimes | p> Transcript | coming | soon | p> Jack | Stripling | covers | college | presidents | governing | boards | Follow | Twitter | @jackstripling | email | jack | stripling@chronicle | em>< | p> |

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Four Oakland police officers fired in wake of sex scandal

Story highlights

• Four officers fired, seven suspended for involvement in sex scandal
• Probe began after suicide of officer accused of having sex with underage prostitute

An additional seven officers were suspended without pay, and another is receiving counseling, according to CNN affiliate KRON4.

The four Oakland Police Department officers who were terminated also face charges of attempted sexual assault, lewd conduct in public, assisting in the crime of prostitution, being untruthful to investigators, and failing to report a violation of law for not disclosing that a minor had sexual contact with police.

The seven suspended officers are accused of accessing a law enforcement database for personal gain, failing to report a violation of the law, and bringing disrepute to the department.

Schaaf said at the press conference that the firings and suspensions send "a loud and clear message that we hold our officers to nothing but the highest standards of professionalism and integrity."

Sex, suicide and failure to report: How Oakland police scandal unfolded

Disturbing allegations

The punishments bring some resolution to the scandal that began last fall with the suicide of OPD officer Brendan O'Brien. Officials say an investigation into his death uncovered disturbing allegations.

An 18-year-old former prostitute alleged she had sex with O'Brien, as well as with a number of other officers from the department and officers from nearby jurisdictions.

The young woman, who goes by the pseudonym Celeste Guap, said it all started when she was 17 years old and became romantically involved with O'Brien, who she credits with saving her from a dangerous pimp.

"He saved me when I was 17," Guap told CNN in a phone conversation. "Instead of taking me to jail, we just kind of started something there, you know."

O'Brian, she said, later introduced her to other officers who became customers.

As the investigation widened, other officers became embroiled in the scandal. Ultimately, four police chiefs resigned and 28 officers across five departments were alleged to have had sexual contact with Guap.

Officers reassigned over Bay Area police sex scandal

Multiple relationships

Some of the officers paid to have sex, Guap said. Others exchanged confidential information, such as tipping her off about prostitution stings, for sexual favors.

Of the 28 officers, Guap said 14 were from the Oakland Police Department. The others included five Richmond police officers, several Alameda County Sherriff's deputies, a Livermore police officer and a Contra Costa County Sheriff's deputy.

The Oakland Police Department is no stranger to scandal. Since 2003 a federal monitor has been in place to ensure the department complies with a negotiated settlement agreement stemming from a police corruption scandal.

Officers had been accused of planting evidence and assaulting suspects. No accused officers were ever convicted, but one officer fled prosecution and to this day remains at large. The city paid out more than $10 million to more than 100 plaintiffs and agreed to make reforms, eventually ending up under federal monitoring.

Wednesday's announcements were "about making department-wide changes," Schaaf said.

"We see you, we are here for you, we are here to help you," she added, addressing victims of sexual abuse in the city.

"

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