UC Berkeley Releases Details About Suspended Professor Accused Of Harassment
BERKELEY (CBS SF) -- The University of California at Berkeley said on Wednesday that it has suspended a professor in its arts and humanities division for sexually harassing a female student 10 years ago.
However, the university didn't name the professor in it's press release.
UC Berkeley said that in 2018, after an extensive investigation, its Office for the Prevention of Harassment & Discrimination "concluded that a professor violated the university's Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy by engaging in unwelcomed verbal conduct of a sexual nature that was found to be sufficiently severe that it created a hostile environment and interfered with a complainant's study and work."
The university said the behavior occurred between 2007 and 2009.
UC Berkeley said, "At all times, the professor denied, and continues to deny, the allegations and maintains that he did not engage in conduct that violated the (harassment) policy or the Faculty Code of Conduct."
The university said the investigation "did not find the professor responsible for violating the university's non-discrimination policy by treating complainant differently from her peers based on her sex."
While the university did not name the professor in its press release, other reports identified him as Alan Tansman.
He is a professor in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures. The decision was handed down in November.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports a student claims he sexually harassed her in 2018.
Five women also accused him of misconduct in a confidential report. Tasman denies the allegations.
UC Berkeley said a vice provost and the professor engaged in settlement negotiations before it brought administrative charges before the Committee on Privilege and Tenure of the Academic Senate.
The university said it reached a settlement with the professor which includes a suspension and two-year limited access to the university, temporary denial of teaching or advising of new students and limiting the professor's access to the campus "to that which is afforded to general members of the public."
UC Berkeley said, "The campus remains firmly committed to increasing transparency on the issues of sexual harassment and sexual violence."
© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. and Bay City News Service. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.