Three students claim sexual harassment abuse by a professor, Harvard University faces Title IX lawsu
Three graduate students in Harvard University's anthropology department are, claiming it failed to protect students from sexual abuse and career-ending retaliation by a professor, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.
The plaintiffs, Margaret Czerwienski, Lilia Kilburn and Amulya Mandava, allege that John Comaroff, a professor of African and African American Studies and Anthropology, "kissed and groped students without their consent, made unwelcome sexual advances, and threatened to sabotage students' careers if they complained," according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit further says that the university's failure to act on reports of harassment by the professor demonstrates an "institutional policy of indifference: a system designed to protect the University, its reputation, and the faculty who sustain that reputation at the expense of its students."
The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory and punitive damages to be decided by a jury trial, as well as attorney fees, according to the lawsuit.
In a statement to CNN, Harvard University said they dispute the allegations in the lawsuit, which they say are "in no way a fair or accurate representation of the thoughtful steps taken by the University."
Attorneys for Comaroff, who is identified in the lawsuit but is not named as a defendant, said in a that he "categorically denies" ever harassing or retaliating against any student. He also denied allegations that he kissed or inappropriately touched a student.
"Professor Comaroff is not only a leading scholar in his field -- he is a deeply caring person who has devoted his energy for decades to mentoring and advancing generations of students," the statement reads. "Attacks on his career based on gossip and fantasy rather than actual evidence are shameful."
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