*** Welcome to piglix ***

Simon Fraser University 1997 harassment controversy


The 1997 Simon Fraser University harassment controversy was a series of events in Canada at Simon Fraser University. In the case at the center of the controversy, Rachel Marsden, then a student, and Liam Donnelly, a swimming coach, accused each other of sexual harassment.

Following an internal hearing that the coach declined to participate in, he was dismissed, but reinstated after the case went public. The case was widely reported in the Canadian press because of the topic of sexual harassment, and controversy over the procedures for investigating it. Ultimately, the case led to the resignation of university president John Stubbs and the reopening and reversal of eleven prior sexual harassment decisions by the university as well as the revision of its harassment policies.

In late 1996, Simon Fraser University (SFU) student Rachel Marsden and SFU swimming coach Liam Donnelly lodged complaints with the SFU harassment office against one another over events that occurred in 1994 and 1995. Marsden's formal complaint involved "seven allegations of unwanted sexual attention, two allegations of intimidating behaviour and a general charge of psychological sexual harassment." Donnelly denied any romantic relationship with Marsden and claimed that she sexually harassed him.

The university harassment procedures required a hearing before a panel made up of three members of the university community. On the advice of his lawyer, the coach dropped his own complaint against Marsden and took it instead to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). No charges were laid after Donnelly made the complaint. In addition, he did not attend the hearing of Marsden's complaint against him. The panel met, heard Marsden's evidence, and finalized its decision. The result was that Donnelly was fired on May 23, 1997.

The panel's report, however, was later leaked to the media. In it the panelists admitted that the specific incidents about which the student complained appeared insignificant and innocuous, but when "the sum total" was considered, it was determined that her complaint was true on a balance of probability. The panel's report, issued on October 11, 1996, recommended that Donnelly be dismissed and that Marsden be financially compensated, given counselling, and be helped with her academic career.


...
Wikipedia

...