Incidents at University of Kentucky
Total: 8
Incident 8631
Status:
Resolved
Person:
Dana Biggs
Role:
Administrator
Position:
Band Director
Discipline:
Arts and Humanities
Specific Discipline:
Music, Band
Outcome Year:
2020
Outcome Category:
Resigned
Quote:
"Dana Biggs, the former director of the University of Kentucky’s marching band, resigned amid a sexual harassment investigation earlier this fall, documents obtained from the university show.
Biggs engaged in a “personal relationship with” and sent unwanted text messages of a sexual nature to someone who was dependent on Biggs for a grade and a scholarship, a letter sent to Biggs in early October by UK’s Office of Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity — the office responsible for investigating Title IX complaints."
Biggs engaged in a “personal relationship with” and sent unwanted text messages of a sexual nature to someone who was dependent on Biggs for a grade and a scholarship, a letter sent to Biggs in early October by UK’s Office of Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity — the office responsible for investigating Title IX complaints."
Last updated:
Incident 7761
Status:
Resolved
Person:
Jeffrey Bewley
Role:
Faculty
Position:
Associate Professor
Discipline:
Life Sciences
Specific Discipline:
Agriculture, Dairy
Outcome Year:
2017
Outcome Category:
Resigned
Quote:
"A UK agriculture professor resigned on Nov. 8 amid an ongoing investigation into inappropriate relationships he allegedly had with two students.
Jeffrey Bewley was hired as an extension faculty member in dairy systems in 2007. "
"The individual who reported him said that she and Bewley engaged in a sexual relationship, which was not reported to the chair of Bewley’s department or the dean of the college...the reporting individual said Bewley continued contacting her after he had been asked to stop.
...Bewley admitted to the relationship with the reporting student, as well as a prior sexual relationship with a different student, which was also not appropriately reported."
Jeffrey Bewley was hired as an extension faculty member in dairy systems in 2007. "
"The individual who reported him said that she and Bewley engaged in a sexual relationship, which was not reported to the chair of Bewley’s department or the dean of the college...the reporting individual said Bewley continued contacting her after he had been asked to stop.
...Bewley admitted to the relationship with the reporting student, as well as a prior sexual relationship with a different student, which was also not appropriately reported."
Last updated:
Incident 7759
Status:
Resolved
Person:
James Harwood
Role:
Faculty
Position:
Associate Professor
Discipline:
Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Bioscience
Specific Discipline:
Bioscience
Outcome Year:
2016
Outcome Category:
Resigned
Quote:
Resigned
Link(s):
Last updated:
Incident 7760
Status:
Resolved
Person:
Buck Ryan
Role:
Faculty
Position:
Professor
Discipline:
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Specific Discipline:
Journalism
Outcome Year:
2016
Outcome Category:
Fine / Salary Reduction
Quote:
"The letter from ... the school’s assistant vice president for equal opportunity, states that Ryan’s behavior during the trip also involved “inappropriate touching” of students and use of sexual language. " "As a punishment, Ryan was banned from receiving funds to represent the university abroad. He also was required to forfeit the money he received from a university award."
Last updated:
Incident 7757
Status:
Resolved
Person:
Christopher Romanek
Role:
Faculty
Position:
Assistant Professor
Discipline:
Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Specific Discipline:
Geoscience
Outcome Year:
2013
Outcome Category:
Resigned
Quote:
"Romanek, a NASA-funded earth science professor who now teaches at Furman University, was investigated in 2013 by the Office of Institutional Equity, which looks into all charges of harassment and intimidation. According to a heavily redacted letter released by UK, Romanek had some type of relationship with a student. This is not prohibited under UK policy, but it’s discouraged. However, relationships are supposed to be disclosed so a professor does not oversee the work of a student with whom they are involved.
“When he was questioned about the behavior that finally prompted the student to seek help from our office, Dr. Romanek then stated that he just wanted to advise her in a way that was best for her professional career,” the letter says. “Dr. Romanek was clearly in violation of university policy. What is without question is that at no time did he arrange for her to actually be transitioned to another adviser without his ongoing supervision.”
The letter also said that he treated the student “in a manner increasingly negative and different than others after she refused a relationship and it was clear that she would not reconsider.”
Romanek was suspended from campus and from contact with the student, due to the seriousness of the matter, the letter says.
Romanek’s attorney, Steve Amato of Lexington, said Romanek did arrange another adviser, and Amato denied any other inappropriate behavior.
“He was looking for a better professor job anyway, was in the process of being recruited elsewhere and elected at the end of the day not to pursue his defense of this through the full institutional appeal process and simply moved on and voluntarily resigned,” Amato said.
Romanek received two months salary and a $25,000 lump-sum payment as part of his settlement agreement. Also in the agreement, UK said that a copy of the investigative letter would be kept in the Office of Legal Counsel, but a copy would not appear in any of Romanek’s personnel files, and that “any official letter of recommendation from the university will give dates of employment, title/position, rate of pay, and reason for termination, e.g., resignation for personal reasons.”"
“When he was questioned about the behavior that finally prompted the student to seek help from our office, Dr. Romanek then stated that he just wanted to advise her in a way that was best for her professional career,” the letter says. “Dr. Romanek was clearly in violation of university policy. What is without question is that at no time did he arrange for her to actually be transitioned to another adviser without his ongoing supervision.”
The letter also said that he treated the student “in a manner increasingly negative and different than others after she refused a relationship and it was clear that she would not reconsider.”
Romanek was suspended from campus and from contact with the student, due to the seriousness of the matter, the letter says.
Romanek’s attorney, Steve Amato of Lexington, said Romanek did arrange another adviser, and Amato denied any other inappropriate behavior.
“He was looking for a better professor job anyway, was in the process of being recruited elsewhere and elected at the end of the day not to pursue his defense of this through the full institutional appeal process and simply moved on and voluntarily resigned,” Amato said.
Romanek received two months salary and a $25,000 lump-sum payment as part of his settlement agreement. Also in the agreement, UK said that a copy of the investigative letter would be kept in the Office of Legal Counsel, but a copy would not appear in any of Romanek’s personnel files, and that “any official letter of recommendation from the university will give dates of employment, title/position, rate of pay, and reason for termination, e.g., resignation for personal reasons.”"
Last updated:
Incident 7758
Status:
Resolved
Person:
Anthony Wolbarst
Role:
Faculty
Position:
Professor
Discipline:
Medicine and Health Sciences
Specific Discipline:
Outcome Year:
2013
Outcome Category:
Retired
Quote:
"Anthony Wolbarst, a faculty member in the department of clinical sciences, was investigated twice in 2012 for inappropriate comments and retaliation against whoever reported it, according to the cover letter from the university’s investigative file.
“The ... finding is that Dr. Wolbarst has ignored the warnings and information given to him previously and is clearly in violation of the university’s policy prohibiting both harassment and retaliation,” the Oct. 30, 2012, letter says. “The office therefore recommends that Dr. Wolbarst should not continue in his position as a faculty member at the University of Kentucky.”
By Jan. 30, 2013, Wolbarst and UK had come to an agreement that would “resolve this matter without the need for further cost or expense and without the need to continue the investigation.”
Under the agreement, Wolbarst would resign Sept. 30 and receive about half of his $126,344 salary and any accrued vacation pay during the six months, although he would not report to work. The agreement forbade him from having contact with students or from suing UK, but gave him full retirement benefits."
“The ... finding is that Dr. Wolbarst has ignored the warnings and information given to him previously and is clearly in violation of the university’s policy prohibiting both harassment and retaliation,” the Oct. 30, 2012, letter says. “The office therefore recommends that Dr. Wolbarst should not continue in his position as a faculty member at the University of Kentucky.”
By Jan. 30, 2013, Wolbarst and UK had come to an agreement that would “resolve this matter without the need for further cost or expense and without the need to continue the investigation.”
Under the agreement, Wolbarst would resign Sept. 30 and receive about half of his $126,344 salary and any accrued vacation pay during the six months, although he would not report to work. The agreement forbade him from having contact with students or from suing UK, but gave him full retirement benefits."
Last updated:
Incident 7756
Status:
Resolved
Person:
Eric Smart
Role:
Faculty
Position:
Researcher
Discipline:
Medicine and Health Sciences
Specific Discipline:
Outcome Year:
2009
Outcome Category:
Suspended / Leave / Restrictions
Quote:
"Eric Smart, the former University of Kentucky researcher who resigned and was censured for scientific misconduct earlier this year, was disciplined for sexual harassment of his employees three years ago.
The sexual harassment allegations led to a year of probation for Smart in 2009, but he stayed on the payroll until 2012, when two internal investigations and one by federal authorities concluded that he had repeatedly fabricated scientific evidence."
The sexual harassment allegations led to a year of probation for Smart in 2009, but he stayed on the payroll until 2012, when two internal investigations and one by federal authorities concluded that he had repeatedly fabricated scientific evidence."
Last updated:
Incident 9077
Status:
Resolved
Person:
Lars Jorgensen
Role:
Coach
Position:
Head Swimming and Diving Coach
Discipline:
Athletics
Specific Discipline:
Swimming and diving
Outcome Year:
Outcome Category:
Resigned
Quote:
"On June 28, 2023, the University of Kentucky paid head swimming and diving coach Lars Jorgensen $75,000 to go away quietly."
"a review of dozens of internal documents obtained by the Lexington Herald-Leader under Kentucky’s Open Records Act shows that, had he stayed, he potentially faced the public humiliation of getting fired.
By the time Barnhart opened the back door for him, Jorgensen was the focus of misconduct complaints from students and staffers and two investigations at UK, one for alleged sexual abuse of women in the swim program"
"a review of dozens of internal documents obtained by the Lexington Herald-Leader under Kentucky’s Open Records Act shows that, had he stayed, he potentially faced the public humiliation of getting fired.
By the time Barnhart opened the back door for him, Jorgensen was the focus of misconduct complaints from students and staffers and two investigations at UK, one for alleged sexual abuse of women in the swim program"
Link(s):
Last updated: