Derek Walcott’s Acts of Sexual Harassment
The obituary of poet Derek Walcott in The New York Times downplayed serious incidents of sexual harassment that he committed, presenting them merely as "allegations" that affected his candidacy for an honorary poetry professorship. The obituary only included Walcott's statement dismissing the accusations as character assassination. However, Harvard's own investigation confirmed that while Walcott was a visiting professor, he pressured a freshman student to have sex and gave her a C when she refused. After the student filed a complaint, Harvard investigated, confirmed her allegations, changed her grade to a "pass," and reprimanded Walcott. This case led Harvard to adopt its first formal sexual harassment policy. The Times had previously reported these facts, and omitting them from the obituary overlooks the real impact on the victim and the historical significance of the incident.| Creator |
Cohen, Adam
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| Publisher |
The New York Times
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| Date |
2017-03-21
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| Language |
Digital
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| Local URL |
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/21/opinion/derek-walcotts-acts-of-sexual-harassment.html
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| Tags | Advocacy, National Media |
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| Date Added | July 13, 2024 |
| Date Modifed | January 7, 2025 |
| Collection | Harvard and Sexual Harassment |