Renowned female literature professor found responsible for sexually harassing a male Ph.D. student.

[tamz_msc]

What Happens to #MeToo When a Feminist Is the Accused?

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/13/nyregion/sexual-harassment-nyu-female-professor.html

Avital Ronell, a world-renowned female professor of German and Comparative Literature at New York University, was found responsible for sexually harassing a male former graduate student, Nimrod Reitman.

An 11-month Title IX investigation found Professor Ronell, described by a colleague as “one of the very few philosopher-stars of this world,” responsible for sexual harassment, both physical and verbal, to the extent that her behavior was “sufficiently pervasive to alter the terms and conditions of Mr. Reitman’s learning environment.” The university has suspended Professor Ronell for the coming academic year.

Here is the fun part-

Soon after the university made its final, confidential determination this spring, a group of scholars from around the world, including prominent feminists, sent a letter to N.Y.U. in defense of Professor Ronell. Judith Butler, the author of the book “Gender Trouble” and one of the most influential feminist scholars today, was first on the list.

“Although we have no access to the confidential dossier, we have all worked for many years in close proximity to Professor Ronell,” the professors wrote in a draft letter posted on a philosophy blog in June. “We have all seen her relationship with students, and some of us know the individual who has waged this malicious campaign against her.”

“We testify to the grace, the keen wit, and the intellectual commitment of Professor Ronell and ask that she be accorded the dignity rightly deserved by someone of her international standing and reputation,” the professors wrote.

I hope that this results in the same treatment being meted out to this professor as faced by the likes of Walter Lewin or Geoff Marcy, but what saddens me is that the likes of Zizek and Spivak are so easily willing to defend something like this without even knowing the details, just because of their friendly relations with a colleague who happens to be female. Marcy was hounded out by his own colleagues at UCB, will we see the same thing happening in this case?

 

[sandorski]

oops

 

[brycejones]

Poor guy going through life with the name Nimrod. As for the prof if she did it then she should face the appropriate sanctions.

 

[kage69]

I would have thought a name like Nimrod to prove an effective ward against sexual advances, huh. My guess is he's either gorgeous or she saw indication of a baby's arm holding an apple.

If it's legit though then yes, same treatment as the guys. Handle it as if the genders were reversed.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

What Happens to #MeToo When a Feminist Is the Accused?

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/13/nyregion/sexual-harassment-nyu-female-professor.html



Here is the fun part-


I hope that this results in the same treatment being meted out to this professor as faced by the likes of Walter Lewin or Geoff Marcy, but what saddens me is that the likes of Zizek and Spivak are so easily willing to defend something like this without even knowing the details, just because of their friendly relations with a colleague who happens to be female. Marcy was hounded out by his own colleagues at UCB, will we see the same thing happening in this case?

Just goes to show that regardless of what group you are involved in - all groups become tribalism.

Denial of facts, denial of evidence.... from the rational side - were all shaking our heads in disgust.

EDIT: Just throwing this out here - because it hasn't been brought up yet (I'm guessing most haven't read the whole article)... The student is 30-something and... is gay. He loves dudes.

Supposedly, this professor is some 65 year old hag that.... is lesbian? Apparently she loves women but wants to sexually harass gay men?

This is one weird fucked up situation.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Poor guy going through life with the name Nimrod. As for the prof if she did it then she should face the appropriate sanctions.

We shouldn’t know his name, he is the alleged victim. I am glad you agree she should face repercussions.

The article cites arguments in her defense that are ironically similar to the conditions that necessitated #metoo in the first place.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Supposedly, this professor is some 65 year old hag that.... is lesbian? Apparently she loves women but wants to sexually harass gay men?

Power and control doesn’t need to make sense, I believe that is part of the allure and why it corrupts so many people in positions of power.

 

[allisolm]

The student is 30-something and... is gay. He loves dudes.

Supposedly, this professor is some 65 year old hag that.... is lesbian? Apparently she loves women but wants to sexually harass gay men?

This is one weird fucked up situation.

Amen to that.

 

[Moonbeam]

Being world renowned is something people who hate themselves and don't know it unconsciously act out in ways to it fuck up. If your self respect was destroyed in childhood by humiliation, you will find a way to humiliate yourself. It's the way we seek redemption while trying to preserve ignorance of what we really feel by forcing ourselves to actually do something in life that will force us to feel it but not relive it in the original. That would lead to real self respect and of course none of us feel we deserve it.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Depending upon if she’s hot or has pointy elbows

 

[pauldun170]

The video has been released....I think

 

[WHAMPOM]

As we have seen in similar movements, there will be many who jump on the band wagon with fake accusations and others that just report "perceived" infractions.

 

[Darwin333]

Wow:

“I am of course very supportive of what Title IX and the #MeToo movement are trying to do, of their efforts to confront and to prevent abuses, for which they also seek some sort of justice,” Professor Davis wrote in an email. “But it’s for that very reason that it’s so disappointing when this incredible energy for justice is twisted and turned against itself, which is what many of us believe is happening in this case.”

Some snips from a few of her emails:

“I woke up with a slight fever and sore throat,” she wrote in an email on June 16, 2012, after the Paris trip. “I will try very hard not to kiss you — until the throat situation receives security clearance. This is not an easy deferral!” In July, she wrote a short email to him: “time for your midday kiss. my image during meditation: we’re on the sofa, your head on my lap, stroking you [sic] forehead, playing softly with yr hair, soothing you, headache gone. Yes?”

That would be enough to run a male out of his job.