College of Architecture and Design academic advisor Lee Waldrep has been terminated and barred from campus after UT learned he sexually harassed eight female students while at the University of Illinois.

The University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign concluded its investigation into the complaints of eight female students against Waldrep in August 2017, a little over half a year before Waldrep was hired by UT.

The investigation found that Waldrep violated the campus policy regarding sexual misconduct and it was suggested that he permanently be barred from returning to UI, according to a The News Gazette article. Waldrep resigned from UI on Aug. 15, 2017.

According to a report from the UI Office of Diversity, Equity and Access obtained by The News Gazette, many complaints involved unwanted physical contact.

“I can…confirm that the university has not received any reports or complaints from students, faculty, or staff against Dr. Waldrep,” UT director of media relations Tyra Haag said.

Waldrep started his position as an academic advisor at UT on Mar. 1, according to Knox News. He was placed on paid administrative leave Monday after the UI report was publicized Sunday.

“Unfortunately, the university’s standard procedure of performing reference checks was not followed when the college hired Dr. Waldrep,” Haag said. “The university is committed to ensuring those across campus who make hiring decisions understand the expectations for adhering to our processes and will take steps to prevent this from happening again.”

Dean of the College of Architecture and Design Scott Poole sent a note to students, faculty and staff to apologize for the situation.

“This has been a difficult week for many in our college, and I want to apologize to each of you for any duress this situation has caused,” Poole said.

Poole said he has requested a series of workshops for faculty and staff regarding hiring practices and the roles and responsibilities for search committee members and the college.

“My goal is to prevent a similar situation in the future and improve our processes going forward,” Poole said.

Director of Student Development and adjunct assistant professor Julie Beckman will step in for Waldrep to help make the transition for students smooth.

The News-Gazette releases investigation details

Complaints filed by eight female students said Waldrep sought female students for “unwanted attention, touching and other conduct that they deemed to cross professional boundaries.”

Described incidents included blocking students in a stairwell, backing them into a wall, pinning their legs between his and touching their butts or backs. Pictures of female students were taken by Waldrep without their permission, according to the report.

Waldrep’s “pattern of behavior was so pervasive and well known within the School” that male colleagues were known to intervene on more than one occasion, according to the report.

“Each complainant recounted incidents in which he touched them or invaded their personal space in ways that made them feel uncomfortable,” Equal Employment Opportunity investigator Claire Sharples Brooks said in her original report. “Through the evidence that they presented, the complainants portrayed Dr. Waldrep as an administrator who became overly engaged with female students and actively pursued opportunities to interact with them, either in person or electronically.”

UI investigators held interviews with seven of the eight female students between March and April of 2017 along with seven faculty, staff and student witnesses.

“The investigation revealed that Dr. Waldrep engaged in harassing conduct of a sexual nature that was so pervasive and so undermined and detracted from those students’ educational experience as to effectively deny those students equal access to the School’s educational opportunities and benefits,” Sharples Brooks said.

UI School of Architecture’s Dean Peter Mortensen wrote a letter to campus investigators stating that the would have recommended “adverse employment action” if Waldrep didn’t decide to resign on Aug. 15, 2017 just before the investigation’s completion. The same was recommended by Sharples Brooks in her report.

An agreement signed on Aug, 10, 2017 says Waldrep can “not make any written or oral statements to anyone disparaging, attacking or painting in a negative light” UI or he will face a fine of $10,000.

The Daily Beacon has requested Waldrep’s personnel file from both UT and UI, but as of Friday had not inspected either.

The Daily Beacon will continue to update this story as more updates are made available.