Harvard bans ex-professor after finding 'unwelcome sexual conduct' spanned four decades

BOSTON — Harvard University has barred prominent former professor Jorge Dominguez from its campus and stripped him of his emeritus status after an investigation found repeated "unwelcome sexual conduct" targeting multiple students and faculty over four decades.

The school Thursday announced the completion of a yearlong Title IX investigation into Dominguez, a government professor who was accused last year amid the #MeToo movement of a pattern of groping and other sexual harassment by at least 18 students and junior faculty members.

Harvard also said it now plans to conduct an external review of the school's response to the complaints against Dominguez, a onetime vice provost. Many on the Ivy League campus have criticized how he was retained and even promoted at Harvard despite repeated complaints over the years.

Dominguez, an expert in Latin American studies and Cuba in particular, resigned last year after the new allegations, ending a run at Harvard that began in 1972. He had been disciplined by Harvard in 1983 for alleged sexual harassment but was allowed to continue teaching at the university anyway.

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Claudine Gay, Harvard's dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, in an email to the community Thursday said the investigation, conducted internally by the school, found "a longstanding pattern of behavior that, at several points, violated policies designed to ensure a safe and non-discriminatory educational and work environment."

"I am appalled by the report’s findings and heartbroken for those who had to endure the behaviors described," Gay said. "Subjecting anyone in our community to unwanted conduct of a sexual nature is unacceptable."

She said sanctions include revoking Dominguez's emeritus status, typically reserved for retired faculty, which comes with several privileges including the ability to teach courses on campus.

Dominguez has also been disinvited to all Faculty of Arts and Sciences campus and each of its activities held off campus, Gay said, and at her request, Harvard has disinvited him from Harvard’s campus and from off-campus Harvard-sponsored events.

Harvard did not make the specifics of the report available, including the conduct of Dominguez or the possible failure of Harvard staff to follow up on allegations.

Gay cited "tension" in all Title IX cases between the privacy of parties and the broader needs of the community, but said she decided to share the findings and sanctions of this investigation after deciding it is "vital for the safety" of the Harvard community.

"Following our policies and procedures has resulted in a set of sanctions that, in effect, removes Jorge Dominguez from our community," Gay said. "This has, in turn, created an obligation for our community to be informed of the removal."

Dominguez could not be reached for comment.

Harvard's commitment to conduct an external review follows the release of a 52-page report last week from a committee of students that, according to the New York Times, called for the outside investigation and other changes such as the hiring of more female professors and creating an anonymous reporting system for harassment.

The Boston Globe reported that the committee's report, which looked at the government department where Dominguez worked, called Dominguez's continued employment a “deplorable situation” and a “prolonged institutional failure.”

Government students warned other students to avoid late-afternoon meetings with Dominguez and to wear baggy clothing, the study found, according to the Globe, and that his behavior was "an open secret."

Many of the women shared their stories with the Chronicle of Higher Education last year – how he would try to kiss them, touched the inside of their thigh, pressed his crotch into them during hugs and slid his hand down their back to touch their behinds.

Harvard President Lawrence Bacow, in an email Thursday addressed to the committee, agreed to bringing in outside experts for the external review to look at whether the school's "procedures, practices, and norms" have hurt its ability to ensure a safe work environment for all.

Bacow pointed to three areas of focus with the Dominguez situation as a guide: What characteristics of Harvard or its culture "might have inhibited" those who have experienced misconduct from reporting it? Are there "impediments to an effective response" when misconduct is reported? How can Harvard ensure promotional decisions are made with a proper understanding of reports or allegations of misconduct?

He said he will share further updates on the external review, including who will lead the effort, in the coming weeks.

But some at Harvard want more action from the school. The Harvard graduate students union has been pushing for a "third-party, neutral grievance process" for the reporting of sexual harassment in the future.

"Harvard failed to manage this growing crisis on its campus for 42 years," Rachel Sandalow-Ash, a second-year student at Harvard Law School, research assistant and union member said in a statement Thursday. "The system is broken.

"After countless cases of harassment and zero solutions, it’s time for Harvard to face facts: the University has failed survivors, and is incapable of fixing this problem internally. Harvard can't be allowed to police itself. We need strong protections against discrimination and harassment in our union contract, including a neutral third-party grievance procedure."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Harvard bans ex-professor after finding 'unwelcome sexual conduct' spanned four decades