Revelations of gross behavior by men working with female students at Michigan State aren't over. They continue to flow like sewage from an open pipe.
The latest spill involves a political scientist who left two weeks ago, as RJ Wolcott reports at the Lansing State Journal:
A former Michigan State University political science professor propositioned a graduate student "for sexual favors in exchange for his academic guidance regarding her research and paper," according an MSU investigative report provided to the State Journal. . . .
The woman, whose name was redacted in the report reviewed by the Lansing State Journal, is one of two former students found to have been sexually harassed by [William] Jacoby. The other incident happened at the University of Michigan shortly before Jacoby went to work for MSU.
William Jacoby (Photo: WILX)
The professor also harassed additional MSU students, the inquiry found.
The Journal describes the recently retired professor as "an eminent figure in his field who until last year served as the editor of the American Journal of Political Science."
A MSU representative tells The State News student newspaper:
"Although he has retired, the university still considers this to be an ongoing personnel matter," [Emily] Guerrant wrote in an email. "Sexual harassment will not be tolerated at the university, and we continue to encourage anyone who has concerns or claims to come forward."
Another spokeswoman, Heather Young, tells Wolcott that "MSU may put limitations in place that limit the former faculty member's affiliation with the department/college," such as exclusion from dissertation committees, lectures and other events.
Michigan State, already rocked by Larry Nassar's serial sexual abuse at its Sports Medicine Clinic, hired a consulting firm last year to look into complaints about Jacoby. "Evidence shows a distinct pattern of behavior," its report says, Wolcott writes.
"This evidence supports that he sexually propositions female graduate students in the political science field, particularly students who express interest in benefitting from his influence, guidance and support within their education and career.”
The University of Michigan also concluded last fall that he "engaged in behavior that violated the university’s sexual harassment policy."
In an eight-sentence statement, Jacoby denies misbehaving at either campus.
