The Lowell Sun released an article today detailing the University’s actions regarding Associate Dean Oliver Ibe. Ibe sexually harassed a female member of faculty both verbally and physically. This is not the only instance of Mr. Ibe harassing female faculty. According to the Sun, “The staff member, then 43, alleges that Ibe moved his hands around the sides of her waist, rubbing her, and then started to move his hands toward her lower back. The woman, his subordinate, hastily pushed him away, she said. The story is one of several listed in a wide-ranging complaint alleging inappropriate behavior by Ibe”.



Not only is it sickening that members of our University’s staff would be subject to such harassment, but it is appalling how the University handled this. Mr Ibe, aftering being found in violation of the University’s anti-harassment policies, only suffered a demotion from his current position, and a change in salary from $200,000 to $159,893, and was told that further violations of the policy will result in further punishment. When the faculty members found out about this, they formed a petition with over one hundred fellow staff members signing it, demanding an investigation and for Mr. Ibe to be suspended pending said investigation. The Chancellor responded by saying that she's "deeply committed to fostering a working and learning environment free of discrimination and harassment and take very seriously any allegation of misconduct or abuse." This is clearly not the case if Mr. Ibe is allowed to be on campus where he can harm more people. If the University truly cared about the safety of their staff and student body, this dangerous predator would be immediately removed from campus pending a third party investigation. It is clear the University is attempting to sweep this under the rug, and let Mr. Ibe off with a slap on the wrist.



According to the Sun, “his victim said she would become physically ill when driving to work, knowing she would soon see Ibe. She said she has had panic attacks. "I've been diagnosed with PTSD. I've gone to therapy," she said. "This doesn't go away"”. Mr Ibe is clearly a dangerous person, and allowing him to stay in a position of power only increases the likelihood that another member of faculty or the student body will suffer a similar fate.



We the students demand that Oliver Ibe is immediately suspended from his professional duties pending the results of an investigation as the faculty have already demanded. We demand to be able to go to our classes without fear of being sexually harassed or assaulted by a predator.