Joseph Paul

Journal & Courier

A Valparaiso woman received a $200,000 settlement from Purdue University on complaints she was sexually harassed by two professors on the West Lafayette campus, according to The Associated Press.

The settlement was reached out of court after Mary Christine Alwan filed civil rights complaints with the U.S. Department of Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, according to a report by AP.

The alleged harassment occurred in the 2014-15 school year by professors David Brule and Glenn Parker, said Alwan's attorney, Andrew Spica.

One professor reportedly made sexually explicit comments, while another gave the woman "a fully nude photo of himself," according to the AP report.

"All too often these type of situations are swept under the rug," Spica said. "In this particular case, Ms. Alwan expressed a desire to step forward despite how tramautic this incident has been for her."

Alwan was a graduate student and teaching assistant at the time. Both professors were allowed to resign, according to the AP report.

Purdue issued a statement Friday regarding the settlement, saying officials could not comment further "out of respect for the confidentiality of all parties involved."

"The professors are no longer university employees," according to a statement issued by Purdue spokesperson Brian Zink. "With respect to the underlying EEOC charge, Purdue acted swiftly to address the conduct well before the charge was filed."