As noted at The College Fix this past Saturday, hundreds of students marched at the University of Delaware to demand more transparency in sexual assault/harassment matters.
The allegations against sociology professor Eric Tranby, accused of offering a “top grade” to a female student in exchange for sexual favors, were the catalyst for the march. UD Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs Matthew J. Kinservick had said that Tranby’s time at UD would formally end at the end of this academic year.
Today in UD’s student newspaper The Review, Tranby denies the allegations against him, and says his departure from the school was his choice:
Last spring, there was a claim of quid pro quo sexual harassment made against me. I strongly deny any allegations that I asked for sexual favors in exchange for a grade, nor did I threaten the complainant in any way. The University takes all claims very seriously, as they should, and they promptly and appropriately investigated the claim. There were no findings of quid pro quo harassment, I was not disciplined, and I remain on faculty. I was upset by the allegations and ensuing rumors, and chose to take a leave of absence while I sought new employment.
Tranby also disputes The Review’s claims that it had attempted to contact him for comment on the matter, stating his phone number is not disconnected, and that no attempt was made to email him via his publicly available university email address.
UD Provost Domenico Grasso also took issue with The Review’s reporting on the matter, stating its reporting “contained errors of fact and misrepresentations, specifically regarding the claims that the university failed to communicate with the student following the proceedings.”
The Review noted it stands by its reporting, adding that “It is our intention to bring light to a larger systemic problem.”
Considering how false accusations and outright hoaxes have been used to “bring light” to issues at campuses in the past, one hopes The Review indeed will act responsibly and remember that the accused, Prof. Tranby, is innocent until it’s proven otherwise.
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