BOULDER, Colo. ― The University of Colorado removed the philosophy department chair and suspended all graduate student admissions after an independent investigation that found pervasive sexual harassment and bullying by employees in the department, university officials said Friday.
A report from the American Philosophical Association’s Committee on the Status of Women cited 15 complaints made to CU’s Office of Discrimination Harassment since 2007. The committee also found that female members of the department are leaving or trying to leave at disproportionate rates after reportedly feeling anxious, depressed and demoralized.
The investigation requested by the university found many instances of sexual harassment occurred while faculty and graduate students were socializing after hours, which often included heavy drinking. Some female students reported that they avoided working with faculty members because they directly witnessed or were subjected to harassment and inappropriate sexualized behavior.
“It is our strong conclusion that the department maintains an environment with unacceptable sexual harassment, inappropriate sexualized unprofessional behavior and divisive uncivil behavior,” the report’s authors wrote.
Aside from announcing the removal of department chair Graeme Forbes, CU officials said they could not discuss any disciplinary action taken against members of the department.
“I can assure you that anyone who has violated university rules has been held accountable under university policies,” CU spokesman Bronson Hilliard said.
The committee’s report does not identify any offending parties or complainants by name, or how many members of the department are involved in the allegations.
