Reactions Wednesday to William Neil Bender’s exposed history of sexual harassment at the College of Education ranged from shock to outrage, as students criticized Bender and University administrators.

Several faculty members at the College of Education Wednesday declined to speak for attribution. But more than one of Bender’s colleagues in the Communication Sciences and Special Education Department said they were shocked by the details of the sexual harassment reports against him.

“I don’t know what to say,” said Cynthia Vail, an associate professor in Bender’s department. “Students have come to me and made some comments (that Bender’s statements) were off-color, and I would always encourage them to file a formal complaint.”

Vail said she hadn’t imagined Bender’s statements or actions reached the level of those reported by students to College of Education administrators.

Some students seemed reluctant to file formal complaints because they feared repercussions for their academic careers, she said. Vail told them it is never too late to file a complaint, even if they had graduated.

College of Education administrators in 1991 addressed inappropriate behavior by a group of its professors – including Bender – that called themselves the Division of the Morally Impaired.

The group hosted a party at the Council for Exceptional Children Convention in Atlanta, which put students in a position to be sexually harassed by faculty, according to documents obtained by The Red & Black through open records requests.

In notes from an April 16, 1991, confidential meeting between an unidentified student and Cheri Hoy, former department head and now an associate dean, the student provides details of the party held by the Division of the Morally Impaired.

“I thought it was a bunch of lecherous old men at a drunken party,” the student said. “Vail warned the (female College of Education students) about the party, which (the student) thought made the girls more curious.”

Vail and several other faculty stayed outside on the balcony, away from most of the guests, while the pre-planned party occurred.

Faculty members Phil McLaughlin and Bender became “out of control” and “very drunk” at the party, which made alcohol readily available to its guests, the student said.

The average age of males at the party was over 40, while the average age of females was under 30. At least one undergraduate and a number of graduate students received invitations to the faculty-hosted event. There is no evidence that anyone under the age of 21 received alcohol, the notes read.

Vail said she was aware of the Division of the Morally Impaired when it existed but said she believes it has long been discontinued.

“I don’t think that our professional organization (The Council for Exceptional Children) was approving of it, believe me,” she said.

One faculty member, who declined to speak for attribution until he can hear Bender’s response to Wednesday’s articles in The Red & Black, said the vast majority of Bender’s colleagues were unaware of the reports against him.

Although administrators were certainly aware of any formal complaints, he said, other faculty members are kept in the dark about their co-workers’ personnel files.

Students in various academic disciplines expressed concern Wednesday about Bender’s history of sexual harassment, criticizing the University for allowing Bender to continue his employment.

“It was disappointing, I would think the University is better than this – 20 years is a long time,” said Samantha Kerwin, a senior public relations major from Peachtree City.

Stephanie Hanisak, a first-year graduate student studying mass communication, said she agreed.

“I think the University should have taken action a long time ago,” she said. “Even if they were not going to fire him, they still should inform students – we have the right to know. No one wants to be in a class with a professor who sexually harasses students.”

Bender’s resignation will not take effect until May 6, 2008, according to documents from the Office of Legal Affairs. Bender is teaching two online courses this semester and is not supposed to have any personal or private interactions with University students during that time.

“To (allow Bender to) keep teaching doesn’t really send the message that something is wrong with his actions,” Kerwin said. “The punishment is not serious enough.”

Bender resigned the day before the University found him in violation of its sexual harassment policy.

What about my story?

The policy defines sexual harassment as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

Examples of sexual harassment include physical assault and direct or implied threats that submission to sexual advances will be a condition of employment, work status, compensation, promotion, grades or letters of recommendation, according to the Non-Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Policy.

Complaints can be reported to Stephen Shewmaker, executive director of the Office of Legal Affairs, who serves as the non-discrimination and anti-harassment officer. Shewmaker can be reached at 706-542-0006.

“Sexual harassment between a professor and a student should not be ‘three strikes and you’re out,’” Hanisak said. “It should be one strike, and I think most female

students on this campus would agree.”