University of California Berkeley released records that revealed in total 19 staff members violated the school’s sexual misconduct policy. (Photo : YouTube/Youth Radio)
Officials at the University of California-Berkeley released investigative and disciplinary documents which revealed that 19 staff members violated the university's sexual misconduct policies. The numbers include six faculty members.
These recent revelations come amidst claims of harassment reported between an assistant basketball coach and the dean of the law faculty. In addition, other claims involve those of an astronomy professor at the university, Huffington Post said quoting a news agency report.
"We have been quite explicit in our acknowledgment that we must do a better job and we must improve our policies, practices, and cultures," Dan Mogulof, University Spokesman was quoted by the news agency as saying.
According to the report, Mogulof said the university is taking steps to address the issue. He told the news agency, the institution would provide more resources to the office conducting investigations into the claims.
The latest claims of sexual misconduct date back to January 2011. In records obtained by The Mercury News, the university office investigating these cases upheld sexual harassment claims against a university diving coach as well.
The damaging report comes amidst an outcry over the university's mishandling of such cases on campus. According to the American publication, while the policy of the university lists possible measures of action - three faculty members found guilty were meted out with the least severe sentence.
Sanctions according to the university can range from a pay cut, demotion, written censure, denial of emeritus status and suspension among them, the publication reported. In addition, among the claims of abuse -seven were put forward by university students while 10 were employees.
Astronomy professor Geoff Marcy was given a warning in 2015 following revelations that he had harassed students for nearly a decade. Sujit Choudhry, former dean of the law school had 10 percent of his pay-cut when it was disclosed he sexually harassed an executive assistant, the publication reported.
Furthermore, the publication reported that the 800-page dossier was heavily censored to protect names of victims and witnesses. The publication described the content in the report as being graphic and disturbing. The university is reported to have attempted to notify employees prior to releasing the report.
Video on history of sexual violence at UC Berkeley :
