UI lecturer banned from rec center after he was accused of taking pictures of women

Aimee Breaux | Press Citizen

A University of Iowa faculty member has been barred from recreation buildings on campus for six months after he was accused of taking pictures of women during workouts at UI’s Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.

Jeffrey Nock, a lecturer from the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, was issued a criminal trespass warning along with a harassment warning notice April 25, according to a University of Iowa Police incident report.

A 22-year-old woman reported the incident to university police in April, according to the report. Much of the police report is redacted to remove identifying information, but the incident is described as “Suspicious male taking pictures of females working out.”

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The public information officer for the UI Department of Public Safety said the criminal trespass warning will last for six months after the date it was issued, meaning Nock is barred from all recreation buildings on campus until Oct. 25. The harassment warning doesn't carry additional consequences, though a person who violates a harassment warning could be charged with harassment.

The police investigation on the incident is inactive, said Hayley Bruce, media relations manager for UI's Office of Strategic Communication. Bruce declined to comment on whether the university is currently investigating the matter, saying that any such investigation would be a confidential personnel matter.

Nock began teaching at the University of Iowa in 2012 and continues to teach there. Two weeks after being banned from recreation buildings, Nock was formally offered $20,776 to teach a summer course and lead an accelerator program that helps UI students launch their own businesses. On May 29, Nock's contract was renewed for another three years, with his salary based on annual reviews.

Nock did not respond to requests for an interview. His lawyer, Iowa City-based Leon Spies, did reach out to the Press-Citizen, though he decl`ined to comment on his client's situation.

A 22-year-old woman reported the incident to university police in April, according to police documents. Much of the police report is redacted to remove identifying information.

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News of Nock's alleged actions comes at a time of heightened attention about sexual harassment in society and on campus.

Campus climate surveys conducted by the university indicate that a sizable portion of students at UI experience sexual harassment from faculty members.

Of the nearly 2,700 respondents who took the 2015 survey offered by the university, 36 percent said they experienced sexist gender harassment by faculty and staff, 13 percent said they experienced crude gender harassment, 4.2 percent said they experienced unwanted sexual attention, and 1.5 percent said they experienced sexual coercion.

Of the nearly 7,000 respondents who took the 2017 survey offered by the university, 43 percent of female students said they had been sexually harassed by a faculty or staff member. Of the male respondents, 31 percent said they had been sexually harassed by a faculty or staff member.

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Around the time the surveys were issued, the university rolled out plans to improve the climate on campus. In early 2014, university officials crafted the lengthy two-year Six Point Plan to Combat Sexual Assault. In 2016, the Anti-Violence Plan picked up where the 2014 plan ended, this time including a specific strategy to expand faculty and staff sexual harassment prevention efforts.

The Anti-Violence Plan made a commitment to "explaining the importance of creating an environment where sexist and crude gender harassment is not used, even if it does not violate university policy." It also announced plans to make web-based sexual harassment programs mandatory for more faculty, including employees with teaching appointments below 50 percent.

Perhaps one of the most important things people on the receiving end of harassment should know is that harassment is defined by the person being targeted, said Adam Robinson, executive director of the Rape Victim Advocacy Program. This means the indicator of harassment is a student's own "inner siren," Robinson said.

"If something is happening that is making them feel uncomfortable, they have a right to stand up against that and speak up against that — and ask for help," he said.

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RVAP is a sexual assault victim advocacy organization that is a part of UI but also provides services outside of the UI community, including in Iowa City, Keokuk, Mount Pleasant and Burlington.

Harassment, like sexual violence, is grounded in power dynamics, Robinson said, which means reporting sexual harassment to law enforcement or university officials can be an empowering experience for some. For others, however, it can further feelings of powerlessness.

Ways you can report harassment to Office of the Sexual Misconduct Response Coordinator

In person at the office, located at 450 Van Allen Hall.

Email osmrc@uiowa.edu

Call the office phone line, 319-335-6200

Report a problem online at osmrc.uiowa.edu/report-problem-0

Reporter Aimee Breaux covers education for the Press-Citizen. Reach her at abreaux@press-citizen.com or 319-887-5414, and follow her on Twitter @aimee_breaux.