The decision by University of Georgia's (UGA) administrators to uphold a sexual harassment complaint against one of their employees may have been wrong.
U.S. Magistrate Judge C. Christopher Hagy stated that there was no substantial evidence against the defendant.
Journalism college dean, John Soloski was accused by his colleague, Jane Jones Kendall, in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication of passing comments about her appearance that made her uncomfortable. In 2005, the UGA's Office of Legal Affairs found Soloski to be guilty of violating the university's policy of Non-Discrimination and Anti- Harassment.
Soloski's comments to Kendall were "That is a nice dress. It really shows off your assets," and "You have brown eyes. I don't believe I've ever noticed that before. What colour are my eyes?" Judge Hagy stated that these statements fall far short of what the law says is sexual harassment.
UGA President Michael Adams has come under heavy criticism for his decision. Soloski's case is often compared with that of Keith Parker who massaged a female student's feet and told her that she looked like she was the type of girl who liked to have fun. The UGA Office of Legal Affairs, acting on a complaint by the student, did not feel that Parker's behaviour was a violation of the UGA harassment policy. Parker's case seems to highlight the fact that the administration of the UGA made an arbitrary and uninformed decision.
To read the complete details of the case click here.
U.S. Magistrate Judge C. Christopher Hagy stated that there was no substantial evidence against the defendant.
Journalism college dean, John Soloski was accused by his colleague, Jane Jones Kendall, in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication of passing comments about her appearance that made her uncomfortable. In 2005, the UGA's Office of Legal Affairs found Soloski to be guilty of violating the university's policy of Non-Discrimination and Anti- Harassment.
Soloski's comments to Kendall were "That is a nice dress. It really shows off your assets," and "You have brown eyes. I don't believe I've ever noticed that before. What colour are my eyes?" Judge Hagy stated that these statements fall far short of what the law says is sexual harassment.
UGA President Michael Adams has come under heavy criticism for his decision. Soloski's case is often compared with that of Keith Parker who massaged a female student's feet and told her that she looked like she was the type of girl who liked to have fun. The UGA Office of Legal Affairs, acting on a complaint by the student, did not feel that Parker's behaviour was a violation of the UGA harassment policy. Parker's case seems to highlight the fact that the administration of the UGA made an arbitrary and uninformed decision.
To read the complete details of the case click here.
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