Columbia Prof Accused Of Harassment Stops Teaching

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — A longtime Columbia University professor accused of sexually harassing and touching a student has stopped teaching classes mid-semester, school officials said in an email to students.

William Harris, a professor of Greco-Roman history in Columbia's history department, will not finish teaching his classes this semester or engage in any student-related activists, according to an email sent to grad students in the school's history department and shared with the Columbia Daily Spectator.

"We share this information more broadly with you to clarify what has been a subject of considerable discussion and concern," the email reads. "We also want to take this opportunity to reiterate that Columbia must be a place where students and scholars are able to purse (sic) their academic work free from worry about harassment of any sort. … The well-being of every member of the Columbia University community remains our very highest priority."

Harris was accused of harassing a graduate student in 2014, according to a lawsuit the student filed earlier this month against the 79-year-old professor. The woman, who is anonymous in the legal filing, says that Harris made repeated physical, sexual advances toward her. Once, Harris forced the woman against a desk and kissed her, the lawsuit claims. The student also claims that Harris put his mouth on her breast in the suit.

The student is suing the Ivy League school under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits sex discrimination by higher education institutions receiving federal funding. The student says that Columbia didn't act appropriately after she reported her interactions with Harris to the school's Title IX Coordinator.

Harris referred Patch to his lawyers when asked for comment on the allegations. His lawyers did not immediately respond to an email from Patch.

"Professor Harris remains an employee of the University," a Columbia spokesperson said in a statement. "We do not comment on personnel matters and have nothing further to add beyond what already has been communicated to our students and faculty, namely that Professor Harris has withdrawn from his teaching, advising and other student-related activities. Columbia is deeply committed to fostering an environment that is free from gender-based discrimination and harassment."

The university does not comment on ongoing legal complaints in the press.

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