Ohio University's Faculty Senate Committee on Professional Relations has told President Robert Glidden to dismiss sexual harassment charges against journalism professor Patrick Washburn.
Glidden's decision, based on the committee's recommendation, will decide the denouement of a yearlong investigation into Washburn's conduct within the school of journalism.
Athens attorney James Sillery investigated five years of complaints against Washburn after being appointed to the case by the state attorney general. In his October report, Sillery found six instances of unprofessional and non-collegial conduct and one instance of sexual harassment. In December, College of Communication Dean Kathy Krendl sanctioned Washburn based on the findings and recommendations of the college's ethics committee, and he has been appealing the sanctions since.
The Faculty Senate committee concluded that the charges were not in tune with the procedures of OU's harassment policy. The committee examined the procedures in the case, not the merit of the charges brought against Washburn. Faculty members representing a cross section of academic departments run the relations committee.
Faculty Senate Chair Hugh Bloemer said the findings came from a meticulous examination of the university's approach to investigating Washburn.
"I believe very firmly in the committee structure," he said. "Frankly, I'm not really surprised (with the result)."
Glidden, who is fundraising in Florida, could not be reached for comment by deadline on how he will handle the recommendation.
John Burns, OU director of legal affairs, predicted several outcomes from the committee's recommendation, including ending to the case, referring it back to the relations committee or ignoring the committee.
"He has a wide latitude," Burns said.
What Burns calls an 'unfortunate' error in the committee's information could alter Glidden's reaction to its findings.
Yegan Pillay, assistant director of OU's Office of Institutional Equity, incorrectly told committee members that a formal sexual harassment complaint from the affected person was needed before the university could investigate, Burns said.
The sexual harassment finding was based on information uncovered in Sillery's investigation, where a female student interviewed said she saw a nutcracker in the shape of a woman's legs in Washburn's office. But the woman never filed a formal complaint.
In its report, the committee cited Pillay's comments and a newly released brochure, "Ohio University Harassment Inquiry and Complaint Procedures," published by the Office of Institutional Equity, which is responsible for the initial investigation into sexual harassment complaints.
"Unfortunately, the committee has gotten two different points of view on relatively the same issue: one that Yegan gave them, and one that I gave them," Burns said.
Washburn said he is "very pleased" about the committee's findings and will wait to see which action Glidden takes before deciding whether to pursue further legal action against OU.
Burns said the committee's misunderstanding does not nullify its recommendation to Glidden, who could wait until mid-June to make a decision. The committee is also considering an appeal from Washburn stemming from a professional ethics complaint against him.
"My advice to Bob (Glidden) would be, 'wait for both, handle them both together,'" Burns said.
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Pat Washburn
