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Sexual harassment allegations don't hinder professor's career

Abstract:
A former University professor resigned and obtained a new job in academia before his sexual harassment investigation was completed. Timeline of Events in the Blount case 1991: A graduate student accused Blount of trying to kiss her. The complaint was dropped....

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George T.

posted 3/03/08 @ 12:15 PM EST

Its so obvious that professors are not held to standards or conduct that most are. Its also obvious that UGA is joke when it comes to taking complaints of sexual harassment serious. They have become masters of sweeping things under the rug and downplaying anything.
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Heather

posted 3/03/08 @ 1:07 PM EST

I personally worked with Dr. Ben Blount during the summer mentioned above on the Georgia Coast. I can say with all honesty that I never felt that he ever crossed any kind of professional line with me or with the other young woman working with us. Dr. Blount is a kind and friendly man, however, I do not feel as though he is a dangerous man. I am not saying that these accusations are false. However, there are times where things like this happen and people are falsely accused or situations my be misconstrued. Please do not pass judgement on people you do not know. I understand that this is a serious issue that should be dealt with. However, even though he is a professor, it is not anyones place but the people involved in the situation to pass judgement.
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mc

posted 3/03/08 @ 1:58 PM EST

Originally posted by

Heather

 I am not saying that these accusations are false. However, there are times where things like this happen and people are falsely accused or situations my be misconstrued. Please do not pass judgement on people you do not know. I understand that this is a serious issue that should be dealt with. However, even though he is a professor, it is not anyones place but the people involved in the situation to pass judgement.


On the contrary, the University needs to set standards of conduct so that it is not up to the victim to decide whether to "pass judgement." Otherwise the victims would always be on trial along with the perpetrators.
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Unimpressed Dawg

posted 3/03/08 @ 3:26 PM EST

Originally posted by

Heather

 I personally worked with Dr. Ben Blount during the summer mentioned above on the Georgia Coast. I can say with all honesty that I never felt that he ever crossed any kind of professional line with me or with the other young woman working with us. Dr. Blount is a kind and friendly man, however, I do not feel as though he is a dangerous man. I am not saying that these accusations are false. However, there are times where things like this happen and people are falsely accused or situations my be misconstrued. Please do not pass judgement on people you do not know. I understand that this is a serious issue that should be dealt with. However, even though he is a professor, it is not anyones place but the people involved in the situation to pass judgement.


A fascinatingly narcissistic way of looking at it: "if he didn't come on to me, I don't think he came on to anyone else. I mean, come on! I'm highly harass-able! Oh, and he didn't sexually harass anyone in front of me, so how could he possibly do something in private that he wouldn't do in public?"

Also, your blithe platitude about not judging people one doesn't know is insipid. We judge people we don't know all the time--especially legal and ethical transgressors--based on the facts we are given in the media and elsewhere. If you don't realize that you do that, you're as unreflective as you are narcissistic and illogical.
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yo momma

posted 3/03/08 @ 3:32 PM EST

Originally posted by

Heather

 I personally worked with Dr. Ben Blount during the summer mentioned above on the Georgia Coast. I can say with all honesty that I never felt that he ever crossed any kind of professional line with me or with the other young woman working with us. Dr. Blount is a kind and friendly man, however, I do not feel as though he is a dangerous man. I am not saying that these accusations are false. However, there are times where things like this happen and people are falsely accused or situations my be misconstrued. Please do not pass judgement on people you do not know. I understand that this is a serious issue that should be dealt with. However, even though he is a professor, it is not anyones place but the people involved in the situation to pass judgement.


maybe you're just an ugo
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BG

posted 3/03/08 @ 4:26 PM EST

Originally posted by

Heather

 I personally worked with Dr. Ben Blount during the summer mentioned above on the Georgia Coast. I can say with all honesty that I never felt that he ever crossed any kind of professional line with me or with the other young woman working with us. Dr. Blount is a kind and friendly man, however, I do not feel as though he is a dangerous man. I am not saying that these accusations are false. However, there are times where things like this happen and people are falsely accused or situations my be misconstrued. Please do not pass judgement on people you do not know. I understand that this is a serious issue that should be dealt with. However, even though he is a professor, it is not anyones place but the people involved in the situation to pass judgement.


Um no, I pay his salary and he works for the government which is funded by the citizens of this state which means he is a public figure and what he does is going to be examined by the citizens.
I paid over 72,000$ last year in state income taxes, don't tell me I cant examine a public employee who is paid 200k a year by the tax payers.
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Unimpressed Dawg

posted 3/03/08 @ 5:18 PM EST

Originally posted by

Heather

 Um no, I pay his salary and he works for the government which is funded by the citizens of this state which means he is a public figure and what he does is going to be examined by the citizens.
I paid over 72,000$ last year in state income taxes, don't tell me I cant examine a public employee who is paid 200k a year by the tax payers.


I agree that citizens have the right to know and have an opinion about illegal and unethical behavior by state employees, but from where in the world do people keep coming up with these absurd numbers? I don't know anything about your state income tax, but other than administrators and endowed chairs, few professors make $200K in UGA salary. In arts and sciences, making over $100K in UGA salary isn't even particularly common.
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t

posted 3/03/08 @ 11:08 PM EST

Originally posted by

Heather

 I personally worked with Dr. Ben Blount during the summer mentioned above on the Georgia Coast. I can say with all honesty that I never felt that he ever crossed any kind of professional line with me or with the other young woman working with us. Dr. Blount is a kind and friendly man, however, I do not feel as though he is a dangerous man. I am not saying that these accusations are false. However, there are times where things like this happen and people are falsely accused or situations my be misconstrued. Please do not pass judgement on people you do not know. I understand that this is a serious issue that should be dealt with. However, even though he is a professor, it is not anyones place but the people involved in the situation to pass judgement.


Um go to the GA dept of Audits website and look up what every professor at UGA makes. MOST make over 100K. I know what I am talking about...you do not. This professor was make well over 100k at the time he left UGA.
And yes I did pay that much in STATE income tax, thats not even including federal.
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Unimpressed Dawg

posted 3/03/08 @ 11:47 PM EST

[QUOTE] Um go to the GA dept of Audits website and look up what every professor at UGA makes. MOST make over 100K. I know what I am talking about...you do not. This professor was make well over 100k at the time he left UGA.
And yes I did pay that much in STATE income tax, thats not even including federal.
[/QUOTE]

Oh, I don't doubt your taxes. My own shock me, too.

Perhaps, though, you should revisit the Dept. of Audits website (as I just did). Here are the salaries of every full professor in the Dept. of Anthropology (Blount's former dept.):

$120,488.35 (department chair who receives an administrative supplement)
$85,413.00 (lower level administrator)
$85,166.00 (lower level administrator)
$138,698.34
$90,166.00
$83,081.00
$80,013.21
$77,865.95

These numbers don't include travel funds. Travel funding (which would not have raised these numbers to 100K) is not a part of salary. It is not income (taxable or otherwise) but support for necessary job-related expenses. In other words, it prevents professors from paying out-of-pocket for doing the jobs they're required to do.

In other words, aside from administrators, as I said earlier, $100K salaries aren't common. Only one in Anthropology. Even two administrators are well below $100K. Other departments have different budgets and hiring practices, but we're talking about anthropology where you proudly pointed to a $200K salary as if it were simply a given, a salary which has likely never, ever existed in the Dept. of Anthropology--or the majority of other depts. in the College of Arts and Sciences. Pick any other department in that college, and you'll find similar results.

You say I don't know what I'm talking about when I talk about university salaries, but my own salary is there, too, whether I am professor, secretary, carpenter, UGA police, graduate assistant, or even sophomore work-study student. I'm quite familiar with those documents and the pay of those with whom I work. Wow, I "feel" as if I know what I'm talking about. I wish my feelings hadn't deceived me when I'm actually ignorant.

Now, perhaps, is the time to use the word with which you like to open your posts: um.
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Anonymous

posted 3/06/08 @ 6:45 PM EST

I think I understand what you were referring to in your statement. I too worked with Blount and I had the same respectful and professional experience. Most of the grad students at UTSA in the anthro dept. respected Blount and spoke very highly of him. It was only after some Departmental faculty began to discuss rumors coming out of U. of Georgia then that a couple of students began a campaign to smear Blount's name at UTSA, I beleive So, I was suspicious when two of my colleagues at UTSA asked to meet with me and discuss their situation against Blount. One colleague, CP, mentioned in the UTSA OID investigation report clearly told me one day after class the semester before she made the allegations that she was confused why everybody likes Blount so much. As I told OID that statement, to me, can be construed many possible ways two of which are obvious to me: 1)she was really mistreated by Blount and had genuine confusion or, 2)she had it out for Blount. And, it was clear to me that of the two it was possible the second choice was a reality since nothing had been perpetrated at that point against the student/colleague, CP, based on her written allegation statement to OID and our conversations. I should mention that it was also obvious to me that CP's and possibly other student's opinions and attitudes towards Blount had been influenced by Departmental faculty discussing the rumors at U. of Georgia of sexual harassment charges against Blount and the faculty's genuine concerns for UTSA students against Blount..., hmmmmmmmmm.

Here is a comment I posted at UT Austin's News Blog:

I am not as amazed and I am appalled at the fact that my testimony in support of Dr. Blount was left out of the OID Memorandum. I was a graduate student at UTSA and I can no longer complete my studies because of all of this. I know CP and I believe based upon our conversations that her story is suspect. CP met with me to tell me her story just before OID went forward with an investigation against Blount. I felt that she was recruiting me to join the sexual harassment allegation bandwagon against Blount. Both of the females that came forward in the Department with allegations against Blount were protected by the faculty and awarded exemptions and favors that other students weren't offered as an obvious sign of protection. And, I was blacklisted by the Department faculty for my supporting and defending statements of the accused because it countered their allegations.

Graduate students at UTSA in the anthro dept. have been discussing about the sexual harassment charges at U. of Georgia against Blount since 2005. So, we knew about the allegations because some faculty were discussing it with us. I believe that those discussions may have swayed some students to make false allegations against Blount. At the very least it is a truth that should be considered in the investigations. Regardless, Blount was not charged with sexual harassment violations at UTSA. I am a female who opposed what I feel are false allegations that took place at UTSA regardless of the allegations at U. of Georgia. And, I received no protection and in fact have suffered needlessly.

I suffered a brutal attack and rape in 2000 and I believe I would have been pushed over the edge from this event if were not for the Rape Crisis Center and their hotline. So, I fully understand the incredible importance of protection and legal rights for victims of abuse and rape. However, I do not believe that the allegations that occurred at UTSA were substantiated for lack of credible evidence and OID could not and did not prosecute. Yet, these women were protected and those of us that opposed the allegations suffered persistent mistreatment by the Department faculty. I cannot help but feel that the faculty wanted to get rid of Blount because of the rumors leaking from U. of Georgia.

Obviously, I stood to gain nothing and to lose everything by defending Blount. You never want to rub anybody the wrong way. I think we all want justice and equality. All of us would like to believe that if we were in a bad situation someone would help us out if they had information that could help us in support of our defense. Unfortunately, there has been a huge cost to my academic career because I offered that support and did what I believe to be the honest and right thing to do.
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Tim C

posted 3/03/08 @ 4:33 PM EST

From reading the letters it looks like legal affairs does a very shallow investigation and then slaps the professor in the wrist each time. If he were to do these things in the private sector this many times he would have been fired and sued. UGA is a joke.
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Heather

posted 3/03/08 @ 5:46 PM EST

I am not being narcissistic. All I am saying is that I spent a lot of time with this man and I am a fairly attractive woman. Do I think I am the hottest girl on campus?! Far from it. But I got to know this man very well and I spent A LOT of alone time with him. We are still friends. Am I saying that he didn't do it?! No. Am I saying that we shouldn't be concerned or have a say in what goes on?!No. All I am trying to say is that one news article comes out and people throw the man under the bus without even knowing the people involved or the situation. And honestly, I think that if he was that type of man he would have come on to me. But he didn't. And if any of you are going to sit there and pretend that no girl has ever falsely claimed sexual harassment against a man because of whatever reason then you are deluded. What upsets me most is that people are so quick to cut others down and so slow to build people up. None of you have even considered what might have happened. You see the words "sexual harrasment" and you are ready to grab your pitchforks. Yes, he may have done these things but you don't know for sure so don't cast him down without finding out the facts. Honestly, if this were true I don't see how there hasn't been more involvement with the law.
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Unimpressed Dawg

posted 3/03/08 @ 7:09 PM EST

Originally posted by

Heather

 I am not being narcissistic. All I am saying is that I spent a lot of time with this man and I am a fairly attractive woman. Do I think I am the hottest girl on campus?! Far from it. But I got to know this man very well and I spent A LOT of alone time with him. We are still friends. Am I saying that he didn't do it?! No. Am I saying that we shouldn't be concerned or have a say in what goes on?!No. All I am trying to say is that one news article comes out and people throw the man under the bus without even knowing the people involved or the situation. And honestly, I think that if he was that type of man he would have come on to me. But he didn't. And if any of you are going to sit there and pretend that no girl has ever falsely claimed sexual harassment against a man because of whatever reason then you are deluded. What upsets me most is that people are so quick to cut others down and so slow to build people up. None of you have even considered what might have happened. You see the words "sexual harrasment" and you are ready to grab your pitchforks. Yes, he may have done these things but you don't know for sure so don't cast him down without finding out the facts. Honestly, if this were true I don't see how there hasn't been more involvement with the law.


Oh, my word! I wish I knew you in person. You're hilarious. You are trying to be funny, right? If the man were really inappropriately attracted to his students, he would, of course, have been attracted to you? Anyone who likes pretty coeds would have to be attracted to all pretty coeds? Knowing that no one could be so vapid and conceited, I assume you're just being a Red and Black comedian.

No, of course, we don't always get the truth from media outlets, legal representatives, or university spokespeople. Therefore, yes, each of us should personally investigate these allegations, interview all the people involved, check relevant case law, and perhaps draft our own sexual harassment policies before having an opinion on the matter. If we can't do that, then we shouldn't form an opinion based on the information we do have--repeated allegations over nearly a decade and a half of completely inappropriate (and similar) behaviors.

But some people make false allegations, and he's a nice man, and you're darn pretty, so we'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Let's build one another up, exhort the brethren to good works, sing "Kumbaya," and smile. I need a hug. If I were prettier, I could probably get it from Blount.
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Heather

posted 3/03/08 @ 5:52 PM EST

And by the way, if you believe that what most of the media presents is "facts" and not biased in anyway you are wrong. I am not saying that we shouldn't examine public figures. Quite the contrary. I believe we should but I don't think that anyone should say he "IS GUILTY" without knowing all the facts and without even so much as a court appearance. I AM NOT SAYING HE DIDN'T DO THIS. He is a very nice man and I refuse to not a least present the other possible side.
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DDawg

posted 3/03/08 @ 7:53 PM EST

Hasn't it been a lot more fun to assume those accused of sexual harassment are always guilty? It really does not matter what the legal definition of sexual harassment is. All sexual harassment complaints should be printed in the newspaper. A person would never be accused if the allegations were not true.
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mc

posted 3/03/08 @ 8:34 PM EST

Originally posted by

DDawg

 Hasn't it been a lot more fun to assume those accused of sexual harassment are always guilty? It really does not matter what the legal definition of sexual harassment is. All sexual harassment complaints should be printed in the newspaper. A person would never be accused if the allegations were not true.


Well, if he's innocent and the investigation had been followed up properly, he would have been cleared.
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Heather

posted 3/03/08 @ 8:48 PM EST

Are you kidding me? There have been a million cases of being falsely accused of sexual harassment. Girls can be extremely manipulative and decietful. I know. I am a girl. He hasn't been charged legally with anything. There are just "allegations".
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Unimpressed Dawg

posted 3/03/08 @ 10:47 PM EST

Originally posted by

Heather

 Are you kidding me? There have been a million cases of being falsely accused of sexual harassment. Girls can be extremely manipulative and decietful. I know. I am a girl. He hasn't been charged legally with anything. There are just "allegations".


Sexual harassment is a human resources and personnel management issue, not only a legal one. UGA's Office of Legal Affairs is authorized to investigate and make findings on these allegations. In at least one of the cases, they found that he had, indeed, violated UGA's sexual harassment policies. Courts of law aren't required for that.

Of course, false allegations are possible and have occurred before. Only a fool would think that no one ever lies. Here, though, just as with the Bender and Doyle cases reported earlier, a pattern of behavior is the issue. The situation here is that multiple women who didn't know one another have, over a decade and a half, made the same allegations and described the same sorts of behavior. If you think we've just had a lucky streak of false allegations, then I suspect you have a pony in this race by the name of Blount.

The other pattern of behavior that is an issue is UGA's hard-practiced habit of giving slaps on the wrist to people who represent some threat to student and faculty safety. Only when a full professor with as much clout as Blount came forward to describe his years-long pattern of behavior with her did UGA seem finally to bother with more than having him check out a video and watch it on his own time--or at least say he did.

You are right: sometimes, we make faulty judgments because we don't know the parties involved, but in your case, I suggest that we also sometimes make faulty judgments because we do know them.
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Anon

posted 3/04/08 @ 12:16 PM EST

Originally posted by

Heather

 Are you kidding me? There have been a million cases of being falsely accused of sexual harassment. Girls can be extremely manipulative and decietful. I know. I am a girl. He hasn't been charged legally with anything. There are just "allegations".


Did you consider that maybe the reason he didn't do it to you was that he thought maybe you would tell people? Clearly, he was selecting those he felt were least likely to report or want to push investigations forward.
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Seriously? You suck at life.

posted 3/05/08 @ 2:38 AM EST

Originally posted by

Heather

 Are you kidding me? There have been a million cases of being falsely accused of sexual harassment. Girls can be extremely manipulative and decietful. I know. I am a girl. He hasn't been charged legally with anything. There are just "allegations".


It's people that think like you that are causing the degradation of society. Seriously? Are you really this idiotic? While some people *might* falsely accuse of sexual harassment/misconduct, assuming that most cases are false is ignorant. I suppose next you are going to tell us that women reporting rape are manipulating the system, and they really wanted the sexual encounter and later regretted it.
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Heather

posted 3/07/08 @ 8:57 PM EST

Thank you for being someone else to come out and support. Like I have stated before, I am not saying these "incidents" did not occur. However, they are suspect and since nothing has occurred legally regarding these matters makes them more "suspect". Secondly, the case at UTSA is ridiculous in my eyes. That person placed herself in a situation with him to invite advances. That is not sexual harassment. It did not occur during work hours and she went back to his home. Yes, he shouldn't have invited her back to his home or even to dinner. Not because it is unprofessional but because you can't trust anyone anymore. However, that person should not have agreed to even go to dinner with him and discuss her marital problems. That is unprofessional on her part. Furthermore, Dr. Blount is a successive and charismatic person. Alot of people like that get accused of the stuff like this. AGAIN I AM NOT ASSERTING THAT THESE ALLEGATIONS ARE FALSE. I just think that all aspects should be examined and my the people who are appointed to do that, not a newspaper or opinionated feminist. By the way I am not Dr. Blount.
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Anon as well

posted 3/04/08 @ 2:22 PM EST

Heather, I understand that it's difficult when it seems as though someone who has been a supportive mentor is being attacked.

However, please also consider the effect that it has upon women who have been harrassed and come forward (at additional personal cost to themselves, stress beyond that which they already, and unfairly, had to face because of someone else's unchecked actions) to insinuate that they are liars.

I know Blount, and these women, and (I think) you, and several other women who had trouble but would/could not file a complaint. Have you sat and listened to a crying student who is ashamed, afraid that someone will call her a liar or think she wanted a sexual relationship, and afraid that an Official Investigation will center around HER character and actions, rather than the professor's?

I think that if you had, you would have trouble talking about false allegations. Pursuing a complaint is not fun when you have not done anything wrong.

The fact that someone is a very nice man in 95% of circumstances does not mean he does not also exploit women where he perceives an ability to do so...AND thinks he is able to get away with it. Faculty are sensible enough to know the rules, and how and where they can be bent with little chance that they will be reprimanded. And some take advantage of this.

The fact that these complaints occurred over the space of 15 years, and that the female professor noted that she came forward because she found out that other students (that's plural) were receiving similar treatment should - I think - give you some pause in coming to his defense.

Again, I don't blame you for your initial reaction, and I think a lot of what people have said to you here is way out of line. But please, consider what defending someone with the insinuation of lies and false allegations does to the women who were harmed and - because of Blount's decision to retire - were denied the opportunity to have their accusations proven.
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*hello

posted 3/05/08 @ 8:50 AM EST

Everyone needs to ask themselves this question:

if you are accused of a crime, would you like to have due process? would you like to be considered guilty just because the accusation sounds Very Serious? would you like to be able to have your day in court? (that means confronting your accuser ... it is the American Way) If you were found guilty without being able to present evidence or face your accuser, would you think you received justice?

Do charges of sexual harassment mean not having to prove the accused is guilty?

how about murder? is that a lesser or greater offense than sexual harassment?

Is everyone accused of a crime presumed guilty? does the university have the right to deny any one, student, staff, or faculty their rights to a fair and open hearing on the charges?
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do you know what you're talking about?

posted 3/05/08 @ 11:16 AM EST

"Do charges of sexual harassment mean not having to prove the accused is guilty?"

No. But they do mean that the accused is able to avoid a negative "finding" against the weight of considerable evidence simply by skipping town.

"Is everyone accused of a crime presumed guilty?"

Sexual harassment is (almost always) not a crime, and this was not a criminal trial.

"does the university have the right to deny any one, student, staff, or faculty their rights to a fair and open hearing on the charges?"

Why don't you ask Ben Blount whether or not he felt "the university" denied him - through Blount's choice to speedily and prematurely retireme prior to a finding, of his right to a hearing.

It's almost like you didn't read or understand the article.
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*help

posted 3/05/08 @ 12:10 PM EST

Well, I did not know the rules said I could not make a general comment about the issue.

And, sexual harassment is againt the law. So, yes, it is a crime.
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Justice Is Sweet

posted 3/06/08 @ 1:06 AM EST

Turns out he has done the same thing at his subsequent job. Shocking! Looks like he's finally getting his due.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA030608.01A.UTSA.38e20b6.html

Delusional creep.
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yea

posted 3/06/08 @ 9:13 AM EST

Thanks, Justice!
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settlers

posted 3/06/08 @ 3:01 PM EST

guys, i think "heather" is professor Blount. that's the only logical explanation i could come up with. and i have to admit, if i were him, i probably would have done the same thing. (pose as a girl to proclaim my innocence.)
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Anonymous

posted 3/06/08 @ 7:02 PM EST

Here is my response to an earlier comment and I would like to add it here too:

I think I understand what you were referring to in your statement. I too worked with Blount and I had the same respectful and professional experience. Most of the grad students at UTSA in the anthro dept. respected Blount and spoke very highly of him. It was only after some Departmental faculty began to discuss rumors coming out of U. of Georgia then that a couple of students began a campaign to smear Blount's name at UTSA, I believe. Based on bizarre and out of place statements by these few students I was suspicious when two of my colleagues at UTSA asked to meet with me and discuss their situation against Blount. One colleague, CP, mentioned in the UTSA OID investigation report clearly told me one day after class the semester before she made the allegations that she was confused why everybody likes Blount so much. As I told OID that statement, to me, can be construed many possible ways two of which are obvious, to me: 1)she was really mistreated by Blount and had genuine confusion and concern or, 2)she had it out for Blount. And, it was clear to me that of the two it was possible the second choice was a reality since nothing had been perpetrated at that point against the student/colleague, CP, based on her written allegation statement to OID and our conversations. I should mention that it was obvious to me that CP's and possibly one other student's opinions and attitudes towards Blount had perhaps been influenced by Departmental faculty discussing the rumors at U. of Georgia of sexual harassment charges against Blount and the faculty's genuine concerns for UTSA students against Blount..., hmmmmmmmmm.

Here is a comment I posted at UT Austin's News Blog:

I am not as amazed and I am appalled at the fact that my testimony in support of Dr. Blount was left out of the OID Memorandum. I was a graduate student at UTSA and I can no longer complete my studies because of all of this. I know CP and I believe based upon our conversations that her story is suspect. CP met with me to tell me her story just before OID went forward with an investigation against Blount. I felt that she was recruiting me to join the sexual harassment allegation bandwagon against Blount. Both of the females that came forward in the Department with allegations against Blount were protected by the faculty and awarded exemptions and favors that other students weren't offered as an obvious sign of protection. And, I was blacklisted by the Department faculty for my supporting and defending statements of the accused because it countered their allegations.

Graduate students at UTSA in the anthro dept. have been discussing about the sexual harassment charges at U. of Georgia against Blount since 2005. So, we knew about the allegations because some faculty were discussing it with us. I believe that those discussions may have swayed some students to make false allegations against Blount. At the very least it is a truth that should be considered in the investigations. Regardless, Blount was not charged with sexual harassment violations at UTSA. I am a female who opposed what I feel are false allegations that took place at UTSA regardless of the allegations at U. of Georgia. And, I received no protection and in fact have suffered needlessly.

I suffered a brutal attack and rape in 2000 and I believe I would have been pushed over the edge from this event if were not for the Rape Crisis Center and their hotline. So, I fully understand the incredible importance of protection and legal rights for victims of abuse and rape. However, I do not believe that the allegations that occurred at UTSA were substantiated for lack of credible evidence and OID could not and did not prosecute. Yet, these women were protected and those of us that opposed the allegations suffered persistent mistreatment by the Department faculty. I cannot help but feel that the faculty wanted to get rid of Blount because of the rumors leaking from U. of Georgia.

Obviously, I stood to gain nothing and to lose everything by defending Blount. You never want to rub anybody the wrong way. I think we all want justice and equality. All of us would like to believe that if we were in a bad situation someone would help us out if they had information that could help us in support of our defense. Unfortunately, there has been a huge cost to my academic career because I offered that support and did what I believe to be the honest and right thing to do.
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Nice Job

posted 3/06/08 @ 7:31 PM EST

Well, I appreciate your comments, above, regarding Dr. Blount. I knew him here at U.GA. where he was department head for a while. I became aware of the incredible amount of infighting occurring in that department later on. Do I think other faculty would bring forth charges just to manipulate the process and "win" on some issue? This occurs all the time. Lie, cheat, steal ... whatever. Now then, isn't it kind of funny, though, that anthropology and linguistics are much less popular, today, and less influential than they all thought they would be? Eugenie Scott saw the light early and jumped into science education. I wonder which burning building all those winners back there at UTA will jump into?!
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Occam's Razor

posted 3/06/08 @ 8:06 PM EST

"Do I think other faculty would bring forth charges just to manipulate the process and "win" on some issue? This occurs all the time. Lie, cheat, steal ... whatever."

Yes, when evaluating similar stories from several different women over the period of a decade and a half at two institutions, the simplest explanation is surely a Machiavellian scheme perpetrated by OTHER faculty, who (unlike Blount) will lie, cheat, and bribe students to invent tales of harassment partially acknowledged by Blount (who just doesn't know how to deal with these durn modern girls), for which the students are only rewarded and not retaliated against.

Thanks for the clarity!
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Disappointed

posted 3/07/08 @ 9:49 AM EST

If "All parties involved in the investigation agreed not to
discuss it" i.e. [charges of harrassment]"--- WHY is this on the Internet?!!!! The title of the article is "Sexual harassment allegations don't hinder professor's career." By posting this article, the Red and Black IS contributing to further demise of Dr. Blount's career! Hasn't he already paid the price--he was asked to leave the university and resign because he made a grave error in judgement and conduct. Having said that, doesn't Dr. Blount deserve another chance? Would any of you want another chance to demonstrate that you have changed? And as for the female professor, she can't and wont discuss this case in writing, yet, the author has literally spelled out the entire case for us. I think this is an example of shoddy and less than ethical journalism-shame on you--don't they teach you about ethics in journalism school?
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Maybe he should've worked at Emory

posted 3/07/08 @ 11:30 AM EST

Originally posted by

Disappointed

 If "All parties involved in the investigation agreed not to
discuss it" i.e. [charges of harrassment]"--- WHY is this on the Internet?!!!! The title of the article is "Sexual harassment allegations don't hinder professor's career." By posting this article, the Red and Black IS contributing to further demise of Dr. Blount's career! Hasn't he already paid the price--he was asked to leave the university and resign because he made a grave error in judgement and conduct. Having said that, doesn't Dr. Blount deserve another chance? Would any of you want another chance to demonstrate that you have changed? And as for the female professor, she can't and wont discuss this case in writing, yet, the author has literally spelled out the entire case for us. I think this is an example of shoddy and less than ethical journalism-shame on you--don't they teach you about ethics in journalism school?


The parties can agree to be quiet all they want to. So what?

This isn't a private college. Therefore it's not a private matter. It affects all of us: this is a public educational institution, these are state employees, this is a sex harrassment policy enforced, or not, using taxpayer dollars.

Open records requests are legal for a reason: holding government accountable.

The R&B, as it noted, began its investigation with an open records request. The story could be spelled out in the story because of the nature of the requested documents (which you are able to read on this website) describing the incidents.

I thought shooting the messenger went out of style centuries ago.
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Snowwhitekitty

posted 3/07/08 @ 10:46 PM EST

Ladies, nip this crap in the bud if it happens to you. First of all, don't hang out with men you barely know by yourself and second, if someone harasses you, kick them in the nuts and tell someone immediately. That will make it a million times harder for them to paint you as a psycho and a liar. Stand up for yourselves and use common sense.
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Victim

posted 3/09/08 @ 2:06 PM EST

A sexual harassment video? Is that a joke? I have been experiencing sexual harassment in my department now for the last few years and I am not sure that I ever want to work in academia again. I have suffered from depression for some time and an now in therapy while the predator is next door. I have never seen such a place where these dogs run free as they do in academia. I have seen so many women suffer and male faculty don't seem to get it. It's even been a bit laughable at times to them. I wonder if they'd feel the same way if it happened to their daughters. They commit crimes over and over and they have to watch a video (if even that) while the victims suffer for years to come. Being accosted by a professor is a bit like being raped in the library of congress - you never expected not to feel safe and not to be protected in a place like that. Unbelievable!
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Snowwhutekitty

posted 3/10/08 @ 3:00 AM EST

Originally posted by

Victim

 A sexual harassment video? Is that a joke? I have been experiencing sexual harassment in my department now for the last few years and I am not sure that I ever want to work in academia again. I have suffered from depression for some time and an now in therapy while the predator is next door. I have never seen such a place where these dogs run free as they do in academia. I have seen so many women suffer and male faculty don't seem to get it. It's even been a bit laughable at times to them. I wonder if they'd feel the same way if it happened to their daughters. They commit crimes over and over and they have to watch a video (if even that) while the victims suffer for years to come. Being accosted by a professor is a bit like being raped in the library of congress - you never expected not to feel safe and not to be protected in a place like that. Unbelievable!


Do you say anything to these jerks, like "That is not an acceptable way to speak to me"? What is their response?
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social disease

posted 3/10/08 @ 3:15 PM EST

Originally posted by

Victim

 A sexual harassment video? Is that a joke? I have been experiencing sexual harassment in my department now for the last few years and I am not sure that I ever want to work in academia again. I have suffered from depression for some time and an now in therapy while the predator is next door. I have never seen such a place where these dogs run free as they do in academia. I have seen so many women suffer and male faculty don't seem to get it. It's even been a bit laughable at times to them. I wonder if they'd feel the same way if it happened to their daughters. They commit crimes over and over and they have to watch a video (if even that) while the victims suffer for years to come. Being accosted by a professor is a bit like being raped in the library of congress - you never expected not to feel safe and not to be protected in a place like that. Unbelievable!


It is apparent through comments about this topic and those about rape in recent red and black editions that many men can't empathize with the situation women are in in a world with men - the constant visual harrassment, the life-long threat of rape, the unbelievable amount of domestic abuse and pregnant girlfriend/wife murder. I read an article in a women's magazine that had women do "role reversal" on a New York street, hooting, hollering, catcalling about men walking by. Rather than be offended (or feel threatened) the way women do, the men felt flattered. The only way for men to understand how a woman feels is for MEN to be the ones doing the hooting, hollaring, ass-pinching, leering, etc. about other men. I'm curious if any male students have reported male (or female) teachers for harrassment.
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Heather

posted 3/25/08 @ 9:10 PM EST

All I was trying to was to present another side. But for those of you who made negative comments towards me, grow up. There is no reason to post online that anyone is "idiotic" is just rude. This is my last post because I refuse to respond to anymore of your childish and insignificant comments about me personally. For those of you who posted intelligent and respectful (even the argumentative ones) replies, thank you for handling yourselves with dignity and respect.
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