Almost a year ago now my friend got caught up in a sexual harassment investigation of a professor at our law school. The professor had been sexually harassing my friend since she began law school. Not only did that professor harass my friend, but he also harassed almost every other new female student. Well that is if you were cute, blonde and petite. Anyway, long story short the situation with the professor blew up last spring and turned into a huge mess. Ironically, the school found out the male professor was harassing my friend through a lesbian professor who was hitting on my friend. Like I said the whole situation is a huge, sticky mess, which included the school threatening and "harassing" my friend to report the professor and cooperate (or shall I say do and say what they told her to do) with them in their investigation.

In the end, the professor was asked to resign. And now just like my friend was afraid of the professor has made her the target of his retaliatory actions, which includes a civil suit for defamation. The whole situation from the school's investigation to the former professor's civil suit is a completely ludicrous in my opinion. The school coerced my friend into their investigation and then revealed her identity to the professor, but failed to reveal the identity of any of the other girls involved in the investigation. The professor alleges he has been defamed despite the fact he has openly exchanged As for sex with students. He has also apparently forgotten that many people including myself witnessed his inappropriate behavior toward my friend and other female students. So again, the whole situation is a catastrophe and my friend's life has been turned upside down all because the professor wanted to have sex with her and she refused.

I have never been one to get very involved in things like this before, but I am nauseated by what has happened to my friend. Therefore, based on this whole situation, another friend and myself have started a grass-roots, non-profit organization that seeks to provide aid and support to victims of sexual harassment who have spoken out and now face retaliatory actions. Not only do we seek to help women victims, but also male victims because we understand that sexual harassment is rising to unprecedented heights. The organization is called The Dogwood Project. We have also just created a facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=37558609042) for the project so please join our group and help us fight sexual harassment as well as help those courageous individuals who have spoken out against their harassers!!

Oh man that does sound like a huge mess, but on the up side it sounds like your friend doesn't need to fear legal action as there are so many people to corroborate her story, not to mention the admission of the professor himself. It's possible that this professor is really unhappy about the outcome of the investigation and his dismissal. Sometimes this type of person thinks if they repeat their case enough it adds credit to their cause.

I do know of a site that may offer some help for you organization. I suggest you check it out it could offer your friend some valuable support.
sexual harassment training
I congratulate you on your efforts and wish you all the best in you grassroots organization.

Best Regards
C. Parkinson