Spring Break
Sexual harassment case details may remain unpublished
Actions against professors seem possible
Derek Simons
Issue date: 2/11/08 Section: News
With great attention to privacy issues, UMKC Chancellor Guy Bailey answered direct questions from the Faculty Senate about the sexual harassment case involving Drs. Keith Haddock and Walker S. Carlos Poston II, which resulted in an out-of-court settlement last summer worth $1.1 million and a second internal investigation conducted last fall by Affirmative Action Director Grace Hernandez.
However, in an exchange with Faculty Senate Chair Dr. Gary Ebersole during the Feb. 5 meeting, indications of the actions currently being taken by the university seem to have emerged.
Senator Kathy Krause, director of Women's and Gender Studies, asked Bailey if a public statement would be released.
"There is clearly a need on campus for something to be said or at least done," Krause said.
Bailey said regardless of what happens, "these things are confidential."
Later, in a separate interview, he was asked again if there would ever be a public statement.
"I don't know that I can't even tell you there'll never be any kind of statement," Bailey said.
The report is done and is still in the University of Missouri System Office of General Counsel (OGC), according to Bailey. He repeated several times the limits placed on what he could say, as there are personnel issues involved.
"I know you don't see anything going on, but there are things going on," Bailey said. "It may take things a little while to work themselves out, but things are actually happening … I can't delve into it."
The?Chancellor made clear the case has not been forgotten or pushed aside in any way.
"I can tell you I spent time on it yesterday afternoon [Feb. 4] and again I spent more time on it on Friday [Feb. 1]," Bailey said. "So, it's taking up a lot of my life."
Bailey said the roughly 70 people interviewed by Hernandez were very cooperative and he added he was pleased with the report.
During the meeting, he offered a hypothetical situation where "something was referred to the appropriate faculty committee," and said, in such a case, the faculty members involved have to be respected and left to do their job.
However, in an exchange with Faculty Senate Chair Dr. Gary Ebersole during the Feb. 5 meeting, indications of the actions currently being taken by the university seem to have emerged.
Senator Kathy Krause, director of Women's and Gender Studies, asked Bailey if a public statement would be released.
"There is clearly a need on campus for something to be said or at least done," Krause said.
Bailey said regardless of what happens, "these things are confidential."
Later, in a separate interview, he was asked again if there would ever be a public statement.
"I don't know that I can't even tell you there'll never be any kind of statement," Bailey said.
The report is done and is still in the University of Missouri System Office of General Counsel (OGC), according to Bailey. He repeated several times the limits placed on what he could say, as there are personnel issues involved.
"I know you don't see anything going on, but there are things going on," Bailey said. "It may take things a little while to work themselves out, but things are actually happening … I can't delve into it."
The?Chancellor made clear the case has not been forgotten or pushed aside in any way.
"I can tell you I spent time on it yesterday afternoon [Feb. 4] and again I spent more time on it on Friday [Feb. 1]," Bailey said. "So, it's taking up a lot of my life."
Bailey said the roughly 70 people interviewed by Hernandez were very cooperative and he added he was pleased with the report.
During the meeting, he offered a hypothetical situation where "something was referred to the appropriate faculty committee," and said, in such a case, the faculty members involved have to be respected and left to do their job.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 7
On the other hand
posted 2/11/08 @ 4:57 PM CST
Could the lack of openness have anything to do with the fact the second investigation uncovered extreme unethical behavior on the part of the accusor eerily reeminiscent of the Duke Lacrosse accusor and the university further realizes that they paid out 1. (Continued…)
DW
posted 2/22/08 @ 3:10 PM CST
If the students of UMKC and the citizens of Kansas City would be as quick to jump on the university for not disclosing this information (see previous comment) as they were when the outlandish sexual discrimination lawsuit came out, there might be a chance to see what a blunder the university has made. (Continued…)
On the other hand and where's the fire now - you're funny!
posted 4/04/08 @ 9:29 PM CST
You're funny, On the other hand and where's the fire...
The investigation that led to the settlement involved all statements under oath and individuals in the depositions provided proof. (Continued…)
Duke LaCrosse
posted 4/07/08 @ 9:10 PM CST
More misinformation of course. Do you know everyone was deposed or provided sworn statements? No, you do not. Do you even know how many people were interviewed for the lawsuit. (Continued…)
The truth is out there
posted 4/08/08 @ 12:30 AM CST
Well said - This person obviously doesn't know what has gone on. The truth of this massive blunder by UMKC will continue to play out in the coming months. (Continued…)
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