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

Design by Marina Sun

