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University’s Second Investigation of Kalyango: Claim Unsubstantiated
By: Susan Tebben
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ATHENS (WOUB) — An Ohio University investigator has determined that claims by an Ohio University student that a professor retaliated against her because of her involvement in a sexual harassment case could not be proven.
An investigation conducted by G. Antonio Anaya, of the university’s Office of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance, concluded that the allegation against Dr. Yusuf Kalyango accusing him of retaliation in violation of university policy could not be proven. In a letter written to Kalyango, Anaya said “there was insufficient evidence to conclude” the allegations were true.
The student, who is not named, alleged that Kalyango retaliated against her “by advocating against her admission to the Ph.D. program in the Scripps College of Communication E.W. Scripps School of Journalism” because the woman had participated in the university’s investigation of another complaint against him. Two women have made sexual harassment claims against Kalyango, one of whom is suing Kalyango and the university.
Kalyango has since responded to that lawsuit. In the response, the professor discredited the investigation done in the case, including questioning Anaya’s integrity.
“The protracted nature of the investigation and the flawed conclusions reached, along with the improper recommendations made by the biased investigator who was employed and paid by the employer who is responsible to conduct fair and objective investigations… indicate the investigator was not qualified or objective,” according to court documents filed in the Eastern Division of the United States District Court Southern District of Ohio.
The third claim, also reportedly a sexual harassment claim, is still being investigated by the university.
According to Robert Stewart, head of OU’s Journalism School, all three investigations will be included in the materials given to a committee that will make a recommendation to university administration whether to strip Kalyango of his tenure. The detenuring process is laid out in the university’s Faculty Handbook.
Kalyango tells WOUB News, “I am so relieved that the report has been released. I never retaliated against the student. It is quite stressful for all parties to wait for a decision for 13 months, especially in my case, when I know that I did nothing wrong in this retaliation accusation.”
This article contains a correction, expanding the explanation of the detenuring process.