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| UC Berkeley dean who violated sexual harassment policies returns to campus | UC Berkeley dean who violated sexual harassment policies returns to campus |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The former University of California, Berkeley law dean who was found to have violated sexual harassment policies has returned to campus as a professor, sparking outrage from the woman at the center of the controversy who said his presence could “silence victims from coming forward”. | The former University of California, Berkeley law dean who was found to have violated sexual harassment policies has returned to campus as a professor, sparking outrage from the woman at the center of the controversy who said his presence could “silence victims from coming forward”. |
| Sujit Choudhry – who resigned in March as head of the prestigious law school, in a case that sparked a national debate about discrimination on college campuses – is returning to his Berkeley office where administrators say he will be working this fall. | Sujit Choudhry – who resigned in March as head of the prestigious law school, in a case that sparked a national debate about discrimination on college campuses – is returning to his Berkeley office where administrators say he will be working this fall. |
| In her first comments on the embattled professor’s return, his former executive assistant Tyann Sorrell told the Guardian that she was “hurt and angry” to learn of his arrival on campus and was particularly devastated to read Choudhry’s op-ed in the student paper that attempted to discredit her substantiated claims. | In her first comments on the embattled professor’s return, his former executive assistant Tyann Sorrell told the Guardian that she was “hurt and angry” to learn of his arrival on campus and was particularly devastated to read Choudhry’s op-ed in the student paper that attempted to discredit her substantiated claims. |
| “I’m still trying to piece myself back together,” Sorrell said on Wednesday during an interview at her lawyer’s office in Oakland. “But he’s backed by his credentials and status … He’s a scholar who gets to return to work and a sense of normalcy.” | “I’m still trying to piece myself back together,” Sorrell said on Wednesday during an interview at her lawyer’s office in Oakland. “But he’s backed by his credentials and status … He’s a scholar who gets to return to work and a sense of normalcy.” |
| Sorrell’s case paved the way for other victims of harassment on the elite campus to come forward, and the provost and chancellor both stepped down in the wake of accusations that the administration mishandled her case. | Sorrell’s case paved the way for other victims of harassment on the elite campus to come forward, and the provost and chancellor both stepped down in the wake of accusations that the administration mishandled her case. |
| I’m still trying to piece myself back together. But he’s backed by his credentials and status | I’m still trying to piece myself back together. But he’s backed by his credentials and status |
| As outlined in a university investigation report and the woman’s lawsuit, Sorrell, who previously spoke at length with the Guardian about her case, said Choudhry treated her like his personal “maid” and began hugging and kissing her without permission. He eventually touched her on a “near daily basis”, sometimes “multiple times per day”, according to her claim. The former dean also allegedly rubbed and caressed her arms and shoulders while she typed. | As outlined in a university investigation report and the woman’s lawsuit, Sorrell, who previously spoke at length with the Guardian about her case, said Choudhry treated her like his personal “maid” and began hugging and kissing her without permission. He eventually touched her on a “near daily basis”, sometimes “multiple times per day”, according to her claim. The former dean also allegedly rubbed and caressed her arms and shoulders while she typed. |
| In one case, the administrator took her hands and put them on his waist before kissing her – an encounter that sent her to the bathroom in tears, the complaint alleged. | In one case, the administrator took her hands and put them on his waist before kissing her – an encounter that sent her to the bathroom in tears, the complaint alleged. |
| After Choudhry admitted touching her – but disputed some specifics of her allegations – the university concluded that he violated sexual harassment policies and punished him by reducing his salary by 10% to $373,500 for one year. After Sorrell, 41, filed a lawsuit, the case went public and sparked intense backlash, with critics saying the university had failed a victim and given an offensively light sanction to a powerful administrator. | After Choudhry admitted touching her – but disputed some specifics of her allegations – the university concluded that he violated sexual harassment policies and punished him by reducing his salary by 10% to $373,500 for one year. After Sorrell, 41, filed a lawsuit, the case went public and sparked intense backlash, with critics saying the university had failed a victim and given an offensively light sanction to a powerful administrator. |
| Choudhry subsequently stepped down as dean but remained on the faculty. Records revealed that the university frequently allowed professors to keep their jobs after substantiating harassment claims, while lower-level staff were removed for similar offenses. The scandals at Berkeley, which is regarded as one of the top public universities in the US, echo recent high-profile cases at Yale University, Columbia University and other renowned colleges. | Choudhry subsequently stepped down as dean but remained on the faculty. Records revealed that the university frequently allowed professors to keep their jobs after substantiating harassment claims, while lower-level staff were removed for similar offenses. The scandals at Berkeley, which is regarded as one of the top public universities in the US, echo recent high-profile cases at Yale University, Columbia University and other renowned colleges. |
| Following negative news coverage across the country, the UC president, Janet Napolitano, in March requested that Choudhry be barred from returning to campus for the rest of the semester. | Following negative news coverage across the country, the UC president, Janet Napolitano, in March requested that Choudhry be barred from returning to campus for the rest of the semester. |
| It appears that no formal ban, however, was put in place, and Choudhry’s lawyer, William Taylor, said on Wednesday that the professor was back at his campus office to do research and writing and to advise students. He is not teaching courses this semester. | It appears that no formal ban, however, was put in place, and Choudhry’s lawyer, William Taylor, said on Wednesday that the professor was back at his campus office to do research and writing and to advise students. He is not teaching courses this semester. |
| A university spokesman noted in a statement that Choudhry did not return to the law school in the spring after his resignation, “consistent with President Napolitano’s instruction”. | |
| “I still feel expendable,” said Sorrell, who remains on administrative leave and said she cannot return to the law school while Choudhry is still present. “He just waltzes back in without ever really accepting any of his wrongs.” | “I still feel expendable,” said Sorrell, who remains on administrative leave and said she cannot return to the law school while Choudhry is still present. “He just waltzes back in without ever really accepting any of his wrongs.” |
| I still feel expendable. He just waltzes back in without ever really accepting any of his wrongs | I still feel expendable. He just waltzes back in without ever really accepting any of his wrongs |
| In his Tuesday op-ed in the Daily Cal, Choudhry argued that his behavior was never sexual and selectively cited from an email Sorrell sent him in 2015 in which she said, “I know you don’t mean anything by it, other than, perhaps, a warm and friendly greeting.” | In his Tuesday op-ed in the Daily Cal, Choudhry argued that his behavior was never sexual and selectively cited from an email Sorrell sent him in 2015 in which she said, “I know you don’t mean anything by it, other than, perhaps, a warm and friendly greeting.” |
| Sorrell and her attorney Leslie F Levy said that it’s common for women who have been harassed or assaulted to initially downplay the seriousness of the offenses, because they may be in denial or are trying to keep their jobs and avoid confrontation. | Sorrell and her attorney Leslie F Levy said that it’s common for women who have been harassed or assaulted to initially downplay the seriousness of the offenses, because they may be in denial or are trying to keep their jobs and avoid confrontation. |
| “My shame played a big role in this,” Sorrell said, noting that when she first complained to Choudhry, she was trying to be “diplomatic”. “He was still my boss. I had just been protecting him for so long.” | “My shame played a big role in this,” Sorrell said, noting that when she first complained to Choudhry, she was trying to be “diplomatic”. “He was still my boss. I had just been protecting him for so long.” |
| Levy said Choudhry’s op-ed “reflects a lack of understanding of the stages of dealing with sexual harassment”, adding, “He’s trying to … undermine the victim when there’s no question what he did was inappropriate and met the definition of sexual harassment.” | Levy said Choudhry’s op-ed “reflects a lack of understanding of the stages of dealing with sexual harassment”, adding, “He’s trying to … undermine the victim when there’s no question what he did was inappropriate and met the definition of sexual harassment.” |
| The university’s policy also notes that “intent” is not a requirement for sexual harassment. | The university’s policy also notes that “intent” is not a requirement for sexual harassment. |
| Choudhry also presented himself as a victim in the case, writing in his op-ed, “My family was besieged for weeks by media from around the world.” | Choudhry also presented himself as a victim in the case, writing in his op-ed, “My family was besieged for weeks by media from around the world.” |
| Sorrell, whose lawsuit is ongoing, said she screamed when she read the piece and argued that his aggressive attempts to disparage her along with his return to campus could lead other victims to discount themselves. | Sorrell, whose lawsuit is ongoing, said she screamed when she read the piece and argued that his aggressive attempts to disparage her along with his return to campus could lead other victims to discount themselves. |
| “You already know nine times out of 10, you’re going to be doubted,” she said. | “You already know nine times out of 10, you’re going to be doubted,” she said. |
| Levy argued that Choudhry could at least work off-campus. “He is taking his life back and the university is letting him as if little or nothing happened.” | Levy argued that Choudhry could at least work off-campus. “He is taking his life back and the university is letting him as if little or nothing happened.” |
| Students staged a campus rally on Wednesday to decry Choudhry’s return. Axenya Kachen, a 21-year-old student organizer, said she was devastated to read the former dean’s op-ed. | |
| “When they reinstate people who are known sexual predators and sexual harassers”, she said, “they are saying a big ‘fuck you’ to every student on this campus and every faculty member who has been affected by sexual violence.” | |
| Taylor, Choudhry’s lawyer, reiterated claims that the touching was not of a sexual nature, adding, “His decision to occupy his office is nothing more complicated than the fact that this is his job to be a law professor and work at the law school.” | Taylor, Choudhry’s lawyer, reiterated claims that the touching was not of a sexual nature, adding, “His decision to occupy his office is nothing more complicated than the fact that this is his job to be a law professor and work at the law school.” |
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