English professor takes hiatus from classroom
March 18, 2008 by MELISSA WEINMAN
Filed under News
A University professor has taken administrative leave resulting from the school’s investigation into claims of sexual harassment.
Charles Doyle, associate professor of English, left the classroom last month.
Doug Anderson, interim head of the English department, said Doyle’s leave began Feb. 29 but would not comment on the length of Doyle’s absence.
“April 12 would be the soonest the committee would be able to reach a verdict,” Christopher Reid, a student of Doyle’s, said he was told about the harassment investigation.
Reid, a junior from Butler, said the class is being taught by another instructor, and Doyle “could not be returning.”
Reid said Anderson addressed the class to answer students’ questions about Doyle’s absence.
“He opened the class to a forum,” Reid said. “The department head used the words ‘administrative leave.’”
Doyle was found in violation of the University’s harassment policy in 2001 and 2002. He is under investigation following complaints from several other females who said he harassed them.
Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Dean Garnett Stokes is conducting the investigation. Stokes was unable to comment on Monday.
Reid said he was upset he had to get a new instructor during the semester, since he dropped another course specifically to take his class with Doyle.
“The whole situation could have been handled differently by everyone involved,” Reid said.
