UT-Austin IDs Faculty, Staff Accused Of Sexual Misconduct

AUSTIN, TX — The University of Texas at Austin in a newly released report identified 17 employees — among them three faculty members — found in violation of the school's sexual misconduct policy since 2017.

The report comes amid growing calls by students for the termination of two professors — Sahotra Sarkar in the philosophy department and Coleman Hutchison in literature — who were previously disciplined for sexual misconduct but slated to teach courses this semester. The report covers disciplinary action taken by the university from November 2017 to December 2019.

Literature professor Hutchison is among those listed in the UT-Austin report released this past Thursday. Also identified are Kevin Dalby, a professor in the College of Pharmacy and Johann Hofmann, a professor in the department of integrative biology. The report also names Edgardo Latrubesse, a research fellow in the department of geography and environment, as among those accused of sexual misconduct.

In correspondence accompanying the report requested by Patch, UT-Austin spokesman J.B. Bird noted the university has roughly 3,000 teaching faculty members and about 24,000 staff members, including student and seasonal employees. The school's Human Resources department coordinates the disciplinary process for staff members while the provost’s office coordinates the process for tenured and tenure-track faculty members, Bird noted.

"Sexual misconduct violates the values and policies of UT Austin," Bird wrote. "Every individual who serves our university must feel valued, respected and free to learn and work in a safe environment. Transparency around past violations, which is mandated by the Texas Public Information Act, is an important step toward accountability."

In response to an open records request, the university released summaries from the Office for Inclusion and Equity of the 14 staff and three faculty members found to have violated provisions related to sexual misconduct. The university previously released similar information for the period between 2013 through November 2017 in response to past open records requests.

Below are summaries related to the most recent actions taken by the university in response to complaints.

• Jan. 20, 2017: An employee contacted the Office for Inclusion and Equity related to allegations that Bobbie Brooks, a dispatcher in the department of Event and Moving Services, made inappropriate comments of a sexual nature to multiple colleagues. Brooks denied the allegations, but investigators collected sufficient evidence in determining violations, according to the report. Brooks received a level 2 written reprimand later reduced to a level 1 counseling/written warning, the report states.
• Oct. 18, 2017: The university received a couple of anonymous reports alleging literature professor Hutchison sexually harassed a graduate student who had since graduated from the program when he engaged in a consensual, romantic relationship while she was enrolled at the university, according to the report. "During the course of the investigation, multiple witnesses interviewed reported additional allegations that Hutchison made inappropriate comments of a sexual nature to another graduate student, and that Hutchison made inappropriate comments about the attractiveness of women faculty members and other women scholars in front of graduate students," the summary reads. While investigators determined the relationship with the student was consensual, he was found to have failed to report it in accordance to university rules. He also was found in violation of university rules related to the sexual comments and discussion the women's attractiveness to other grad students, according to the report. On June 7, 2018, Hutchison received a written reprimand; and for a two‐year period (2018‐19 and 2019‐20 academic years), he ineligible to sole‐supervise graduate students; ineligible for consideration for promotion to full professor; and prohibited from being appointed to any administrative or leadership positions within the university. Hutchison was also required to participate in one or more discussions with his college’s associate dean to discuss appropriate interactions and boundaries with students; and was required to develop a plan, to be presented to his department chair, regarding how Hutchison planned to manage professional working relationships with students in the future.
• Oct. 19, 2017: An employee alerted university officials of possible inappropriate conduct of a sexual nature by Paul Rodriguez, a night shift cleaning worker in Facilities, towards two colleagues, according to the report. One of the accusers alleged Rodriguez of making inappropriate comments of a sexual nature and trying to initiate unwanted physical contact with the colleague on multiple occasions. The second college made similar allegations of inappropriate comments. Rodriguez denied making some of the alleged comments and tried to provide context regarding the other comments, according to the report. He also denied initiating unwanted physical contact. But investigators found sufficient evidence to the contrary, resulting in termination of his employment on March 29, 2018, the report reads. "Rodriguez is barred from future university employment," officials added.
• Dec. 20, 2017: A graduate student made a complaint alleging that Hofmann, the professor in the Department of Integrative Biology, attempted to start a consensual relationship with the student while making inappropriate comments of a sexual nature. Hoffmann denied making some of the allegations and tried to provide context regarding the other allegations, but the investigation determined there was sufficient evidence the alleged conduct occurred in violation of university rules. On July 10, 2018, Hofmann received a written reprimand and was not permitted to hold an administrative or leadership position within the university for a two-year period (2018‐2019 and 2019‐2020 academic years). He also was barred from sole-supervising grad students until fall 2020; was suspended for one semester at full‐time leave without pay; and removed as lab facilities director. Hofmann was also required to participate in one or more discussions with his college’s associate dean regarding appropriate interactions and boundaries with students. Moreover, he was required to develop a plan regarding managing professional working relationships with students.
• Jan. 25, 2018: A student accused Christopher Bookout, an employee in Parking and Transportation Services, of making comments of a sexual nature towards multiple students and colleagues. Multiple witnesses contacted in the course of the investigation corroborated the claim, leading to Bookout's resignation by Feb. 18, 2019, in the midst of a university investigation.
• Oct. 8, 2018: An anonymous complainant alleged that Alberto Gonzalez, an operations manager in the Department of Mexican American and Latino/a Studies, allegedly engaged in inappropriate conduct of a sexual nature with several different colleagues in his department, including making unwelcome physical contact and making inappropriate comments of a sexual nature, according to the report. "Gonzalez admitted to engaging in some of the alleged conduct, and tried to provide context regarding some of the other alleged conduct," investigators wrote. Sufficient evidence of violations were found, leading to a level 3 reminder corrective action letter on April 10, 2019.
• Nov. 1, 2018: A student complained that James Maner, a researcher in the Department of Geological Sciences, allegedly made a series of inappropriate comments of a sexual nature to the complainant during an in‐person conversation. "Maner admitted to disclosing personal and private details about his personal life during the conversation with complainant, but denied making some of the other alleged comments," the report reads. As a result of an investigation, Maner on Feb. 5, 2019, received notice of the university's intent to terminate his employment, leading to his resignation by month's end.
• Nov. 30, 2018: An anonymous complainant lodged allegations against Daniel Orozco, a supervisor with UT Libraries, that made inappropriate comments of a sexual nature, engaged in unwelcome physical contact, and blurred the lines between professional and personal relationships in the workplace. Orozco denied all the allegations, according to the report, despite sufficient evidence corroborating the claims. Orozco resigned in lieu of termination effective April 3, 2019, and is barred from future university employment.
• Dec. 6, 2018: Multiple students accused Philip Nemy, a director and lecturer in the Department of Radio-Television-Film, of making inappropriate comments of a sexual nature to multiple students "...and engaged in unwelcome physical contact with multiple students," according to the report. "Nemy denied engaging in the alleged conduct, and tried to provide context regarding some of his interactions with students," the report reads. An investigation determined rules violations, and Nemy's university employment was terminated on May 13, 2019.
• Dec. 20, 2018: A complainant accused a food service worker identified only with the surname of Gomez-Aguilar of making inappropriate comments of a sexual nature in the workplace, allegations he denied. Following an investigation, the worker received a level 3 final warning corrective actin letter on Oct. 3, 2019.
• Jan. 9, 2019: Investigators received a report that Latrubesse, a research fellow in the Department of Geography and the Environment, had allegedly attempted on multiple occasions to engage in unwelcome physical contact with a faculty member, according to the report. Sufficient evidence was gathered determining the conduct had occurred, according to the report. "On Sept. 11, 2019, Latrubesse was barred from future employment and/or research affiliation with the university after resigning his university employment for reasons unrelated to OIE's investigation," investigators wrote.
• Jan. 13, 2019: A night shift employee in custodial services contacted officials related to concerns that another employee, formerly her subordinate, engaged in unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. But investigators determined the alleged unwelcome conduct had been consensual, but the woman had failed to report the relationship in violation of university policy. As a result, she received a level 1 written warning.
• Feb. 3, 2019: A complaint emerged that Frederick Rivera, an employee in the dish room, "...engaged in inappropriate conduct of a sexual nature with two colleagues in the same department," according to the report. The first colleague lodged accusations that Rivera engaged in unwelcome physical contact with the colleague on multiple occasions while the second colleague said he made inappropriate comments of a sexual nature and engaged in unwelcome physical contact colleague. Despite Rivera's denials, his employment was terminated on June 7, 2019, after an investigation.
• Feb. 18, 2019: Shelton Lewis, an enrollment director in the College of Fine Arts, was accused of engaging in unwelcome physical contact with multiple colleagues, according to the report. Investigators "...interviewed multiple witnesses who experienced or witnessed the alleged conduct," the report reads. "Lewis denied the allegations." Following an investigation, Lewis resigned in lieu of termination effective June 30, 2019, and is barred from future university employment.
• Feb. 20, 2019: An employee contacted campus police with concerns of being stalked, both on and off campus, by Justin Ward, a director in the University Development Office. The information was forwarded to the Office for Inclusion and Equity, which launched an investigation. Ward denied the allegations despite sufficient evidence found the conduct occurred, which led to Wards's resignation in lieu of termination on July 12, 2019.
• March 8, 2019: Dalby, the College of Pharmacy professor, was accused by an employee of making inappropriate comments of a sexual nature to a student. Dalby denied the allegations, but an investigation found sufficient evidence the conduct had occurred. As a result, Dalby received a letter of reprimand on Sept. 5, 2019, and is prohibited from solely supervising graduate students until fall 2021 among other punitive measures.
• July 16, 2019: An employee contacted investigators to accuse Angel Pozos, a warehouse manager in the Cockrell School of Engineering, of engaging in unwelcome physical contact with a staff member. Pozos admitted to some of the allegations, according to the report, which ultimately led to termination of his employment on Oct. 18, 2019.