This article is the first part of a two-
part investigation by The Michigan
Daily’s Focal Point team into allegations
of sexual misconduct against computer
science professor Walter Lasecki and
the University of Michigan’s handling of
these allegations. It is based on emails,
documents, notes and interviews with
12 individuals knowledgeable of these
events.
Content Warning: Sexual harassment
and misconduct
T
wo investigations into four
allegations of sexual misconduct
against University of Michigan
computer science professor Walter
Lasecki began in November 2019. One
was conducted by the University’s
Office of Institutional Equity (OIE).
The other was conducted by the
Association for Computing Machinery
(ACM), a prominent computer science
research association.
Despite
receiving
the
same
allegations, the two investigations
reached vastly different conclusions.
OIE’s investigation ended on July 13
2020, with the finding that Lasecki’s
behavior in all four cases did not violate
the University’s sexual harassment
policy, Standard Practice Guide 201.89
and with no sanctions against Lasecki.
ACM, however, concluded in February
2021 that Lasecki had violated its Policy
Against Harassment, and Lasecki was
banned from ACM events for at least
five years.
Hired to the University in 2015,
Lasecki is an assistant professor in the
Computer Science and Engineering
(CSE) department of the College of
Engineering. He also held a position in
the School of Information until March
2020.
Three of the allegations against
Lasecki came from non-University
affiliated
graduate
students
and
involved
his
conduct
at
social
gatherings and industry conferences
from 2016 to 2019. The fourth allegation
came from a student at the University,
who alleges she had been harassed on
campus, off campus and at industry
events.
The
four
students
requested
anonymity in interviews with The
Michigan
Daily,
citing
Lasecki’s
prominence in the industry and their
fears of professional retribution.
All the allegations shared common
characteristics: while joining the
students for drinks, Lasecki allegedly
made statements that made the
students feel uncomfortable. In at least
six instances, he allegedly touched
them sexually.
Lasecki did not respond to multiple
email requests for comment from
The Daily. He denied all allegations of
sexual harassment and misconduct in
statements to OIE.
In a statement to The Daily on May
14, University spokesperson Rick
Fitzgerald declined to discuss the
specifics of this case, citing issues of
confidentiality.
“It is university policy not to publicly
discuss personnel matters out of
respect for employee privacy. That also
means we are unable to discuss details
of any matters that may be reported to
the Office for Institutional Equity for
review,” Fitzgerald wrote.
When asked if Lasecki would be
returning to the University to teach in
Fall 2021, Fitzgerald wrote that “there
has been no final determination at this
time.”
The allegations against Lasecki are
not the first to rock the University’s
Computer Science and Engineering
department. In Feb. 2020, an article
in The Verge uncovered numerous
previously
undisclosed
allegations
of sexual harassment against CSE
faculty member and former Clinc CEO
Jason Mars, who continues to teach
courses in the CSE department despite
pushback from students and faculty.
In January 2021, CSE faculty member
Peter Chen — and interim chair of the
department from January to July 2020
— was placed on leave after criminal
sexual misconduct charges of the first
degree with a victim under 13 years old
were filed against him.
University spokesperson Fitzgerald
offered a brief summary of the College
of
Engineering’s
commitment
to
Thursday, May 20, 2021
INDEX
Vol. CXXIX, No. 112
© 2020 The Michigan Daily
NEWS ....................................
OPINION................................
MiC.........................................
ARTS.......................................
MULTIMEDIA........................
STATEMENT..........................
SPORTS.................................
ARTS
Bright Green Field
Squid’s new album is
dedicated to the concept
of “no idea is a bad idea”
>> SEE PAGE 8
NEWS
Vaccine Mandate
How the U-M community
is reacting to the Housing
requirement
>> SEE PAGE 2
OPINION
Sexual Misconduct
Pursuing systemic
change in a toxic U-M
environment
>> SEE PAGE 5
MICHIGAN IN COLOR
Free Palestine
“Palestine will be free
because the liberation of
Palestine is a victory for all of
humanity”
>> SEE PAGE 6
SPORTS
Perfection
Meghan Beaubien tosses a
perfect game to close out
the Softball regular season
>> SEE PAGE 13
inside
2
4
6
8
9
11
13
Daily investigation finds divergence in U-M,
outside organization’s handling of allegations
against CSE professor
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM
michigandaily.com
NINA MOLINA AND SAMMY
SUSSMAN
Daily Staff Reporters
addressing matters of culture and
inclusivity in a statement to The Daily.
“CSE is committed to fostering
an inclusive environment, where all
community members feel safe and
welcome,” Fitzgerald wrote. “Efforts
to broaden participation and improve
climate in CSE have been underway
for years, including mechanisms to
improve climate, educate employees
and students on inclusivity, increase
representation and remove roadblocks.
These can be seen in detail in the
annual DEI Climate Report.”
Fitzgerald also highlighted a specific
initiative by Alec Gallimore, dean of the
College of Engineering, to improve the
CSE department’s climate. This group,
known as the CSE Climate Assessment
Committee, investigates and manages
the department’s culture, according to
Fitzgerald.
The formation of this committee
came after faculty members called for
its creation in a Feb. 1, 2021 open letter.
According to Fitzgerald, this climate
assessment will be led by a third-party
and a final report will be released this
summer.
“CSE has not demonstrated that it
can fully resolve culture and climate
issues internally, and CSE would
benefit from outside perspectives,” the
open letter reads. “Michigan conducts
program reviews for internal academic
improvement. We propose a regular
climate-related program review for
CSE, similar to such academic or
graduate program reviews.”
Sexual harassment and misconduct
allegations
at
the
University
of
Michigan are not unique to the College
of Engineering. The School of Music,
Theater and Dance has seen allegations
against two former professors Stephen
Shipps and David Daniels, while the
School of Literature, Science and
the Arts has seen allegations against
English professor Douglas Trevor and
former American Culture professor
Bruce Conforth.
In January 2020, Provost Martin
Philbert — who previously oversaw
OIE — was placed on leave and later
resigned after multiple allegations
of sexual harassment against him
were reported to the University. The
allegations were later investigated and
corroborated by law firm WilmerHale.
Another WilmerHale investigation
released earlier this month found
hundreds of credible allegations of
sexual abuse against former University
doctor Robert Anderson over a 37-year
period. The Anderson report concluded
that the allegations represent a
“devastating pattern” of abuse that was
known to University officials.
Read more at michigandaily.com
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