Harvard is Embroiled in Another Sexual Misconduct Controversy. Here’s What You Need to Know.
In May 2020, three students had brought forward allegations against Anthropology Professor John L. Comaroff involving unwanted touching, verbal sexual harassment, and professional retaliation. These reports led to an internal investigation by Harvard's Title IX office. By August 2020, Claudine Gay, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, placed Comaroff on paid administrative leave pending the outcome. The investigations eventually concluded that Comaroff had violated university policies, leading to him being placed on unpaid administrative leave last month. The situation escalated when three graduate students filed a federal lawsuit against Harvard. They claimed that the university had failed to take appropriate action on reports of Comaroff's misconduct for over a decade, reflecting an institutional indifference to harassment. Before the lawsuit, 38 faculty members signed an open letter questioning the investigations' findings, expressing dismay at the sanctions against Comaroff and concern over the implications for faculty-student advising relationships. This letter sparked backlash from campus community, leading signatories to retract their support.| Creator |
Lim, Ariel H.
Xu, Meimei
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| Publisher |
The Harvard Crimson
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| Date |
2022-02-11
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| Local URL |
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2022/2/11/Comaroff-What-You-Need-To-Know/
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| Tags | Administrative Response, Advocacy, Legal, Student Publications |
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| Date Added | March 26, 2024 |
| Date Modifed | January 7, 2025 |
| Collection | Harvard and John Comaroff |