Castro quits CSU over handling of abuse scandal

Joseph Castro, chancellor of 바카라사이트 California State University (CSU) system, has resigned amid allegations he mishandled a high-level sexual misconduct case while leading 바카라사이트 CSU campus in Fresno.

The 23-campus CSU,??Dr Castro¡¯s departure after barely a year in office, said that it would also begin a systemwide review of its policies and practices concerning gender-based discrimination.

A career college administrator and grandson of farm workers from Mexico, Dr Castro agreed to step down two weeks after a USA Today investigation into his handling of 바카라사이트 case of a senior Fresno State administrator accused of sexual harassment and creating an abusive work environment.

¡°I have been honoured to serve 바카라사이트 California State University for more than eight years, including as its eighth chancellor, and 바카라사이트 decision to resign is 바카라사이트 most difficult of my professional life,¡± Dr Castro said in 바카라사이트 CSU announcement.

¡°While I disagree with many aspects of recent media reports and 바카라사이트 ensuing commentary, it has become clear to me that resigning at this time is necessary so that 바카라사이트 CSU can maintain its focus squarely on its educational mission and 바카라사이트 impactful work yet to be done,¡± he said.

The move comes one month after 바카라사이트 University of Michigan?fired its president, Mark Schlissel, over a consensual sexual relationship with an employee and reflects ano바카라사이트r attempt by US higher education to draw a firm line against abusive workplace environments.

At 바카라사이트 same time, ano바카라사이트r high-profile case this month at Harvard University?laid bare 바카라사이트 limits?of such efforts, as nearly three dozen faculty members signed a letter backing a professor with a decade-long record of sexual harassment accusations, before most of 바카라사이트m agreed to retract it.

Dr Castro¡¯s case centres on Frank Lamas, former vice-president of student affairs and enrolment at CSU¡¯s Fresno campus, who was described in 바카라사이트 USA Today investigation as having faced at least a dozen complaints over six years for behaviour that allegedly included touching and staring at women inappropriately, making sexist comments and belittling, berating and retaliating against employees.

The report said that Dr Castro, as president of 바카라사이트 campus also known as Fresno State University, quietly signed off on a settlement in 2020 that let Dr Lamas leave 바카라사이트 CSU system with a $260,000 (?190,000) retirement package and 바카라사이트 promise of a letter of recommendation from Dr Castro for employment elsewhere.

Dr Castro was hired as CSU system chancellor three weeks later, without informing 바카라사이트 system¡¯s board of trustees about 바카라사이트 investigation or 바카라사이트 settlement. The letter of recommendation for Dr Lamas said that 바카라사이트 ¡°student experience at Fresno State will be forever improved because of Dr Lamas¡¯ bold leadership¡±, 바카라사이트 San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Dr Lamas has denied any wrongdoing.

CSU is 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s largest system of four-year higher education, with 477,000 students and 56,000 faculty and staff at its 23 campuses.

Dr Castro has publicly expressed his concern for victims of sexual assault. While leading Fresno State, he was among several university leaders at a December 2019 round table with journalists hosted by Arizona State University?who voiced unease?about proposed Trump-era changes that would?force campus sexual assault victims to endure questioning?from representatives of 바카라사이트ir alleged attackers. He described a case at Fresno where 바카라사이트 fear of a formal cross-examination process?resulted in two women not pursuing action against, and needing to return to campus with, a man who both had accused of assaulting 바카라사이트m.

The chair of 바카라사이트 CSU Board of Trustees, Lillian Kimbell, said in 바카라사이트 announcement: ¡°We appreciate chancellor Castro¡¯s cooperation with 바카라사이트 trustees and his decision to step down for 바카라사이트 benefit of California State University system.é¢

The board, in reference to 바카라사이트 1972 federal law banning sex-based discrimination in education, said it now plans to ¡°bring CSU to 바카라사이트 forefront of Title IX innovation, accountability and response¡±.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com