Incidents at Columbia University
Total: 15
Incident 8768
Status:
Resolved
Person:
Charles Armstrong
Role:
Faculty
Position:
Professor
Discipline:
Arts and Humanities
Specific Discipline:
History
Outcome Year:
2020
Outcome Category:
Retired
Quote:
"Ultimately, Armstrong was found guilty of harassment and violating the University policy prohibiting relationships between professors and students. However, Moon explained, “they refuse to call the rape ‘rape.’”
In June 2020, Armstrong retired early after being found guilty of plagiarism in 2019.
In June 2020, Armstrong retired early after being found guilty of plagiarism in 2019.
Link(s):
Last updated:
Incident 7295
Status:
Resolved
Person:
Thomas Roma
Role:
Faculty
Position:
Professor
Discipline:
Arts and Humanities, Photography
Specific Discipline:
Photography
Outcome Year:
2018
Outcome Category:
Resigned
Quote:
Resigned after five women made allegations.
Last updated:
Incident 7296
Status:
Resolved
Person:
Thomas Jessell
Role:
Faculty
Position:
Professor
Discipline:
Life Sciences, Neuroscience
Specific Discipline:
Neuroscience
Outcome Year:
2018
Outcome Category:
No Longer Employed (includes Fired and Contract Non-renewal)
Quote:
Fired for violating consensual relationship policy.
Last updated:
Incident 8076
Status:
Resolved
Person:
Role:
Faculty
Position:
Professor
Discipline:
Business, Finance and Economics
Specific Discipline:
Finance and Economics
Outcome Year:
2018
Outcome Category:
Jury / Judge Finding - Civil Case
Quote:
“the jury awarded damages based on its finding that Professor Bekaert improperly retaliated against Professor Ravina. Columbia prohibits retaliation against any member of its community and very much regrets the actions by our faculty member in this matter.”
Link(s):
Last updated:
Incident 8167
Status:
Resolved
Person:
Thomas Harford
Role:
Administrator
Position:
Dean
Discipline:
Specific Discipline:
Outcome Year:
2018
Outcome Category:
No Longer Employed (includes Fired and Contract Non-renewal)
Quote:
Student alleges she was coerced into a relationship. The university said in a statement that upon learning of the allegations against Harford in August, it immediately removed Harford from his position as dean and terminated his employment.
Last updated:
Incident 8228
Status:
Resolved
Person:
Michael Golston
Role:
Faculty
Position:
Professor
Discipline:
Arts and Humanities, English
Specific Discipline:
English
Outcome Year:
2018
Outcome Category:
No Known Outcome for Respondent
Quote:
"found responsible in July 2018 for sexually assaulting and harassing a student," - no known sanctions as of April 2019
Last updated:
Incident 7294
Status:
Resolved
Person:
William V. Harris
Role:
Faculty
Position:
Professor
Discipline:
Arts and Humanities, History
Specific Discipline:
History
Outcome Year:
2017
Outcome Category:
Monetary Settlement / Award, Retired
Quote:
Retirement as part of a settlement.
Link(s):
Last updated:
Incident 8085
Status:
Ongoing
Person:
Role:
Position:
Discipline:
Specific Discipline:
Outcome Year:
2016
Outcome Category:
Quote:
Lawsuit filed.
Last updated:
Incident 7293
Status:
Resolved
Person:
Thomas Pogge
Role:
Faculty
Position:
Professor
Discipline:
Arts and Humanities, Philosophy
Specific Discipline:
Philosophy
Outcome Year:
2016
Outcome Category:
Official Warning / Reprimand
Quote:
Sanctioned in mid-90s; Forbidden from entering building while accuser was in class. Now teaches at Yale University.
Last updated:
Incident 7292
Status:
Resolved
Person:
Qais Al-Awqati
Role:
Faculty
Position:
Professor
Discipline:
Medicine and Health Sciences, Medicine
Specific Discipline:
Medicine
Outcome Year:
2014
Outcome Category:
Monetary Settlement / Award
Quote:
Lawsuit settled.
Last updated:
Incident 9028
Status:
Resolved
Person:
Role:
Faculty
Position:
Adjunct Instructor
Discipline:
Arts and Humanities
Specific Discipline:
Outcome Year:
1998
Outcome Category:
Monetary Settlement / Award
Quote:
"The case was settled in 1998."
"...court papers surfaced from the 1990s which revealed that when he was an adjunct professor at Columbia University, he had been accused of giving a graduate student 11 years his junior good grades in return for sex.
The papers, given to The Post by Middle East Forum, showed that Columbia and Mahallati had both been sued by the woman"
"...court papers surfaced from the 1990s which revealed that when he was an adjunct professor at Columbia University, he had been accused of giving a graduate student 11 years his junior good grades in return for sex.
The papers, given to The Post by Middle East Forum, showed that Columbia and Mahallati had both been sued by the woman"
Link(s):
Last updated:
Incident 7291
Status:
Resolved
Person:
Mark Urban
Role:
Administrator
Position:
Deputy Vice President
Discipline:
Business, University Development and Alumni Relations
Specific Discipline:
University Development and Alumni Relations
Outcome Year:
1993
Outcome Category:
Resigned
Quote:
"After April 1989 sexual relations between plaintiff and Urban continued. On January 30, 1990 plaintiff met with Gertrude de la Osa, Director of Development Services at UDAR and complained about sexual harassment by Urban. The matter was promptly reported by de la Osa to Borden. An investigation was immediately conducted by Borden with the assistance of the Office of General Counsel of the University.
By early March Urban was relieved of any supervisory role with respect to plaintiff. In April 1990 Urban's resignation was requested and given. He left the University at that time."
By early March Urban was relieved of any supervisory role with respect to plaintiff. In April 1990 Urban's resignation was requested and given. He left the University at that time."
Last updated:
Incident 8046
Status:
Ongoing
Person:
Role:
Position:
Discipline:
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Specific Discipline:
Political Science
Outcome Year:
1986
Outcome Category:
Official Warning / Reprimand
Quote:
"Had no basis to do more than give a warning"
Link(s):
Last updated:
Incident 7290
Status:
Resolved
Person:
Serwyn Bialer
Role:
Faculty
Position:
Professor
Discipline:
Arts and Humanities, History
Specific Discipline:
History
Outcome Year:
1986
Outcome Category:
Official Warning / Reprimand
Quote:
Found in violation and warned. (Link opens PDF, see page 5)
Last updated:
Incident 8831
Status:
Ongoing
Person:
Role:
Position:
Discipline:
Specific Discipline:
Outcome Year:
Outcome Category:
Quote:
Last updated: