Spring Break
English professor takes hiatus from classroom
MELISSA WEINMAN
Issue date: 3/18/08 Section: News
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Charles Doyle, associate professor of English, left the classroom last month.
Doug Anderson, interim head of the English department, said Doyle's leave began Feb. 29 but would not comment on the length of Doyle's absence.
"April 12 would be the soonest the committee would be able to reach a verdict," Christopher Reid, a student of Doyle's, said he was told about the harassment investigation.
Reid, a junior from Butler, said the class is being taught by another instructor, and Doyle "could not be returning."
Reid said Anderson addressed the class to answer students' questions about Doyle's absence.
"He opened the class to a forum," Reid said. "The department head used the words 'administrative leave.'"
Doyle was found in violation of the University's harassment policy in 2001 and 2002. He is under investigation following complaints from several other females who said he harassed them.
Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Dean Garnett Stokes is conducting the investigation. Stokes was unable to comment on Monday.
Reid said he was upset he had to get a new instructor during the semester, since he dropped another course specifically to take his class with Doyle.
"The whole situation could have been handled differently by everyone involved," Reid said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 12
ben
posted 3/18/08 @ 12:19 PM EST
why is it that an investigation leads to an "administrative leave," but someone who resigns, and thus makes himself appear more guilty (see "Terrorism expert resigns amid sexual harassment investigation") continues to be allowed to finish the semester?
anon
posted 3/18/08 @ 10:06 PM EST
I'm a former student of Professor Doyle's, and I was totally shocked to hear about this. I truly think that this could me a misunderstanding. You see, Doyle specializes in folklore, so he's really up-to-date on the ways young people communicate nowadays, as those constitute "folk speech. (Continued…)
anon
posted 3/19/08 @ 10:46 AM EST
I am sad to hear this. I took 2 classes with Dr. Doyle and really enjoyed them. He's a weirdo, but he's hilarious and a good teacher.
mick
posted 3/19/08 @ 12:27 PM EST
Okay, you can't let a guy off because he teaches something that has to do with sex and sexual harassment claims are filed against him. If I was a specialist in 1930's racism and went around calling black people "colored", that wouldn't make it okay. (Continued…)
An English Department
posted 3/22/08 @ 11:08 AM EST
I am shocked at the number of comments, in response to this article and in response to previous articles, that express criticism of the Red and Black and now of the university for conducting an investigation based on the reports of students who claim to have been harassed by Dr. (Continued…)
Concerned Dawg
posted 3/22/08 @ 12:49 PM EST
How ignorant do you have to be to blame the victim and the messenger(RnB) for Doyles miscues. I can only imagine the courage it would take to come forward about the harrassment from a professor who is responsible for one's grade. (Continued…)
anon
posted 3/24/08 @ 10:22 AM EST
It's not that we're ignorant or against the University or the Red and Black (well.. maybe the Red and Black, but that's just because you all are treating this like some sort of tabloid story). (Continued…)
Edward
posted 3/27/08 @ 9:42 PM EST
Thanks to the staff at the _Red and Black_ for their fantastic work on this issue and finally bringing the necessary pressure to bear on this very public "secret. (Continued…)
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