UCC expresses concern as details of harassment complaint become public
The college is under pressure from academics around the world over claims it is unfairly punishing an employee who showed a journal article about the oral sex habits of fruit bats to a female colleague in her office. They, and Dr Dylan Evans, a behavioural science lecturer at UCC’s school of medicine, argue that it contradicts principles of academic freedom to punish him for discussing research with a colleague.
The controversy relates to sanctions against Dr Evans after external investigators upheld a complaint that he sexually harassed his colleague last November by showing her the article. Her complaints about previous alleged instances of sexual harassment by him were not upheld. UCC president Dr Michael Murphy did not take disciplinary action as the investigators’ report in February said that, while it was reasonable for the colleague to be offended by a joke with sexual innuendo, the 43-year-old academic had not intended to cause offence. He instead told Dr Evans to undergo training and counselling and that his behaviour will be monitored by his head-of- school for two years.
