An article detailing a University of Rochester faculty member's years of enduring sexual harassment in the workplace has drawn widespread concern.

An article posted in Mother Jones on Friday outlined a decadelong effort by a female faculty member detailing her experiences and efforts to hold a colleague responsible for years of what she described as inappropriate actions and comments that created a hostile work environment and home life.

According to an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint, eight current and former UR professors submitted identical EEOC complaints claiming that a colleague, the university and several administrators violated laws that ban discrimination in the workplace.

More:UR's clearing of prof becomes focus of harassment complaint

In the 111-page document, the offending professor is described as "a narcissistic and manipulative sexual predator and a selfish academic colleague who insisted on taking credit for work to which he was only tangentially connected."

University officials have issued a statement regarding the filing, noting that the allegations outlined in the EEOC complaint were "thoroughly investigated and could not be substantiated."

University of Rochester responses:

► Statement on EEOC matter

► Joel Seligman statement to university community

"Through two separate investigations — one by an internal investigator and one conducted by an external investigator — no violation of the law or University policy was found," according to a statement from the University of Rochester. In short, university says the allegations outlined in the complaint were largely based on hearsay and were not substantiated.

UR President Joel Seligman also issued a letter regarding the EEOC complaint. In it, he noted that "allegations are not facts," and said the university will respond to the complaint.

"I want to assure every member of our University community that sexual misconduct will not be tolerated here," Seligman said. "The allegations in the EEOC complaint are horrific. They will undoubtedly be particularly distressing to those who have experienced sexual misconduct and their advocates and allies. I acknowledge that many are outraged. But again, I urge you to consider these allegations for what they are: assertions that remain unproven despite two thorough investigations."

VFREILE@Gannett.com