Hunger strike ends as UR professor Florian Jaeger placed on administrative leave

The University of Rochester Board of Trustees on Tuesday confirmed that professor Florian Jaeger will take a leave of absence from the university, effective immediately, while further investigations into allegations of sexual harassment are undertaken.

"The University, with agreement from Professor Florian Jaeger, has put Professor Jaeger on administrative leave pending the outcome of the Special Committee’s investigation," read the statement.

Following the announcement Tuesday a senior, majoring in political science at UR, Lindsay Wrobel announced she would end a hunger strike she had been on since a campus protest on Sept. 13.

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As Wrobel entered her sixth day without food, the physical implications were severe enough that she had to consult medical professionals for guidance. She was planning to seek treatment tomorrow to stabilize her condition, but has ended her strike following the news of Jaeger's administrative leave.

"I'm really, really tired. My whole body hurts," said Wrobel, who spent the majority of her day in a hearing about an unrelated harassment case.

In the statement released on Sept. 19 by the University of Rochester Board of Trustees, Chairman Danny Wegman stated, “This is a matter of utmost importance to the entire University community, and the Special Committee will conduct its investigation with complete independence, with access to all relevant information, and receive total cooperation from the University.”

President Joel Seligman added that: “I welcome this independent investigation by the Board and assure the complete cooperation of the University and its staff. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and the public deserve a full and transparent accounting on this matter.”

Wrobel maintained that the radical action was appropriate.

"I think the point of a hunger strike is when you decide that your well-being is not worth as much as the cause that you're fighting for," said Wrobel. "It's important for the administration to see the impact of their inaction. Sexual assaults and harassment happen to people, who feel sadness and loneliness and hurt. It's about bringing attention to human suffering, which should be a concern whether you are the one directly impacted or not."

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In 2015, University of Missouri graduate student, Jonathan Butler, began a hunger strike following a lack of administrative action in the face of multiple incidents of racism. Butler called for the resignation of then UM President Tim Wolfe, saying that the strike would either end in Wolfe's resignation or his own death.

Wolfe resigned in the following week.

Jenna Register, a UR alumna who conducts research in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, was working alongside Wrobel to bring continued attention to what she called "university negligence."

Register said that Wrobel was using her hunger strike to bring public attention to an effort that extends beyond the strike.

"It's encouraging others to step up and do something, maybe in a less radical way, but she's paving the way for people to get involved in a way that they deem appropriate," Register said. "She's in the public eye representing so much more than herself and her hunger strike. This is about keeping attention on the case, and keeping momentum up until there's change."

While the two have since taken to celebrating the news, Register said that efforts to bring appropriate action in cases of sexual assault and harassment will continue to be made.

In an email to his students on Sept. 12, Jaeger announced that he would be stepping down from teaching for the remainder of the semester.

"I am incredibly sorry for the emotional turmoil you must be experiencing, following the allegations raised against me in the EEOC complaint as well as news coverage," wrote Jaeger. "Some of you will feel unable to attend a class taught by me. I can imagine how this must feel, and do not want you to be in that position."

"It might be hard to believe for you at this point, but I have always tried to make my classes and my lab an exciting, (safe), and supportive place to pursue science," he continued. "The investigation last year also presented an opportunity for me to educate myself further about how women are affected in academia, to reflect on how I acted in the past, and how I want to act in the future. Thank you for reading this statement."

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Register said that while administrators were likely hoping that the issue and the attention it's garnered would die down, following his decision to take the remaining semester off from teaching, the UR community wasn't going to let that happen.

"Even though the first protest is over, we've formed a group to look into continuing the fight against sexual assault and harassment on campus," said Register. "I think that the university will think that the problem has been solved. It hasn't."

"Lindsay is off strike for now given that the Board of Trustees is taking over the investigation, putting Jaeger on administrative leave, and putting students on the commission. Efforts are absolutely continuing. We are not done yet. Lindsay will get healthy and continue to fight," Register said.

The university was contacted with questions regarding Wrobel's influence on the decision. A response has yet to have been received.

Where things currently stand

After an 111-page Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint was received on Aug. 30, controversy has continued to unravel at the University of Rochester.

According to the complaint eight current and former UR faculty members and graduate students submitted identical EEOC complaints claiming that a colleague (Florian Jaeger), the university and several administrators violated laws that ban discrimination in the workplace. Two of the complainants, Richard Aslin and Ben Hayden, have since left the university.

The complaint brings into question the thoroughness of the investigation conducted by the university, and sites cases of retaliation by university officials against those who spoke up about Jaeger's interactions with female students and professors.

Since the complaint was filed, and following a town hall and campus protest, the university has released a statement saying that it is fully cooperating with the EEOC, and will be "Engaging an independent expert to review University policies and processes with respect to discrimination and harassment to ensure that they reflect best practices."

LPEACE@GANNETT.COM