Students Sue Harvard Over Harassment
In January, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard announced sanctions against Professor John Comaroff following investigations into sexual harassment allegations. Subsequently, three graduate students filed a lawsuit against Harvard, claiming that their harassment complaints against Comaroff had been downplayed or ignored for years. The investigations found Comaroff had sexually harassed one student, Lilia Kilburn, but other claims were not substantiated. Despite the lack of recommended sanctions from the Office for Dispute Resolution, an external review found that Comaroff had threatened another student, leading to his unpaid leave and restrictions. The case prompted campus protests and open letters from faculty, with some retracting their support for Comaroff after the lawsuit details emerged. The lawsuit alleges a pattern of misconduct dating back to Comaroff's time at the University of Chicago and criticizes Harvard's handling of harassment complaints. The case has highlighted broader issues within Harvard's investigatory process, leading to calls for a third-party investigation process and greater protections for students.| Creator |
Gibson, Lydialyle
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| Publisher |
Harvard Magazine
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| Date |
2022-06
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| Format |
Digital
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| Local URL |
https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2022/04/jhj-students-sue-harvard-over-sexual-harrassment
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| Tags | Advocacy, Protests and Demonstrations |
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| Date Added | July 8, 2024 |
| Date Modifed | January 7, 2025 |
| Collection | Harvard and John Comaroff |