May 4, 1996 · The Independent

Nobel laureate accused of sexual harassment

West Indian poet and Nobel laureate Derek Walcott, 66, is being sued in the United States for over half a million dollars for sexual harassment. Nicole Niemi, a former student from Boston University, alleges that Walcott, her creative writing professor, threatened to fail her unless she had sex with him, causing her to leave the university's playwriting course and return to her home. Niemi seeks compensation for emotional distress, university expenses, legal fees, and punitive damages. This is not the first accusation against Walcott; he was previously accused of similar behavior at Harvard in 1992. Walcott has been asked to provide testimony in June but has indicated he will not return to Boston until the fall of the next year. He refused to comment on the allegations, as did his lawyers.
Creator
Pepinster, Catherine
Publisher
The Independent
Date
1996-05-04
Format
Digital
Local URL
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/nobel-laureate-accused-of-sexual-harassment-1345669.html
Tags
Date Added July 13, 2024
Date Modifed January 7, 2025
Collection Harvard and Sexual Harassment