University, former professor sued for sexual harassment
Nick Vardanega
Issue date: 8/31/07 Section: News
Two former OSU students are suing the university and a former professor who they say subjected them to repeated sexual harassment.
Christi Sherman and S. Chantell Carpenter were teaching assistants in 2004 for speech communications professor Ron Leavitt.
They also worked at the Corvallis Hearing and Speech Center and Oregon Association of Better Hearing. Leavitt was the president of both.
During the time they worked for Leavitt, the two women said they were subjected to repeated sexual advances and intimidation by Leavitt.
Sherman and Carpenter are suing Leavitt, the Corvallis Hearing and Speech Center and the Oregon Association of Better Hearing, in addition to OSU, and former dean of the College of Liberal Arts Kay Schaffer. They allege that Schaffer and the college knew about Leavitt but did not take proper action.
According to documents filed by the Benton County Circuit Court, Schaffer and OSU deny prior knowledge of the alleged sexual misconduct and said they reacted appropriately when they found out.
Schaffer retired in June and could not be reached for comment.
According to court documents, Sherman became a teaching assistant for Leavitt during spring term of 2004 after taking a communications class from him the term before. She also began working for Leavitt at the Corvallis Hearing and Speech Center and the Oregon Association for Better Hearing.
Sherman said Leavitt made lewd sexual comments to her, often in front of business colleagues and clients. She also said that on several occasions, Leavitt slapped her buttocks.
Carpenter, who was also a teacher's assistant and employed by Leavitt, said in the complaint that Leavitt made offensive comments, touched her inappropriately and made unwanted sexual advances.
Carpenter said while she was a teacher's assistant Leavitt would make comments in front of his class to give the impression that the two were intimately involved.
Carpenter also alleges that several times, when she accompanied Leavitt on business trips as part of her work at the Corvallis Hearing and Speech Center, Leavitt would book only one hotel room with one bed. During these trips Carpenter said Leavitt made repeated sexual advances toward her.
Christi Sherman and S. Chantell Carpenter were teaching assistants in 2004 for speech communications professor Ron Leavitt.
They also worked at the Corvallis Hearing and Speech Center and Oregon Association of Better Hearing. Leavitt was the president of both.
During the time they worked for Leavitt, the two women said they were subjected to repeated sexual advances and intimidation by Leavitt.
Sherman and Carpenter are suing Leavitt, the Corvallis Hearing and Speech Center and the Oregon Association of Better Hearing, in addition to OSU, and former dean of the College of Liberal Arts Kay Schaffer. They allege that Schaffer and the college knew about Leavitt but did not take proper action.
According to documents filed by the Benton County Circuit Court, Schaffer and OSU deny prior knowledge of the alleged sexual misconduct and said they reacted appropriately when they found out.
Schaffer retired in June and could not be reached for comment.
According to court documents, Sherman became a teaching assistant for Leavitt during spring term of 2004 after taking a communications class from him the term before. She also began working for Leavitt at the Corvallis Hearing and Speech Center and the Oregon Association for Better Hearing.
Sherman said Leavitt made lewd sexual comments to her, often in front of business colleagues and clients. She also said that on several occasions, Leavitt slapped her buttocks.
Carpenter, who was also a teacher's assistant and employed by Leavitt, said in the complaint that Leavitt made offensive comments, touched her inappropriately and made unwanted sexual advances.
Carpenter said while she was a teacher's assistant Leavitt would make comments in front of his class to give the impression that the two were intimately involved.
Carpenter also alleges that several times, when she accompanied Leavitt on business trips as part of her work at the Corvallis Hearing and Speech Center, Leavitt would book only one hotel room with one bed. During these trips Carpenter said Leavitt made repeated sexual advances toward her.
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