Former UW-Madison Vice Chancellor Paul Barrows, who allegedly sexually harassed several female co-workers, returned to his backup position in the Office of the Provost Monday, angering campus activists.
Barrows, now serving as a senior administrative program specialist, will be forced to complete a sexual harassment education program by the end of this year, but some find that time frame bothersome.
\You'd think before allowing him to come back and work in close proximity with people he might have allegedly harassed, he should have to do the training,"" said UW-Madison senior Ilsa May, volunteer coordinator for the Campus Women's Center. ""Usually if you commit a crime or do anything that requires rehabilitation, you should do that before you go back,"" she said.
""I don't think he should be working with students or other faculty in a direct or private situation,"" said Jane Benzschawel, support services coordinator for the Women's Center. ""I think that this case is a highly charged situation, with someone who's specifically in a higher office and has that power dynamic.""
The allegations have brought sexual harassment to the forefront of the university's agenda. A Monday Faculty Senate meeting addressed the issue, according to Lindsey Stoddard Cameron, chair of the committee on women in the university, and coordinator of new faculty services.
""Certainly Chancellor Wiley has asked the Faculty Senate to take a close look at faculty policies and procedures but I don't anticipate any immediate change in the policy. That will be a conversation that will go through the governance process and the administrative processes on campus,"" Cameron said.
""[Chancellor Wiley] feels it would be appropriate at this point in time to review our policies and make sure that they are thoroughly received,"" said Eden Inoway-Ronnie, executive assistant to the provost. ""[But] he indicated that he wasn't positive there will be a need to change the policy.""
When asked if UW-Madison's present system for handling sexual harassment is effective, Inoway-Ronnie said, ""By and large, yes.""
Still, activists are weary of the university's handling of the situation. ""The university is setting the ... example for how they will choose to treat people who are known sexual offenders,"" Benzschawel said.
""I guess this could say something about the campus climate, too,"" May said, ""How are students supposed to feel comfortable for coming forward if they feel sexually harassed?\
