Purdue News

April 2, 1999 Purdue trustees uphold termination of professor WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue University's Board of Trustees today (Friday, 4/2) upheld the university's decision to fire Dong X. Shaw, a non-tenured assistant professor, for forcing his attentions on a female undergraduate student. The Purdue Censure and Dismissal Hearing Committee, consisting of 12 faculty members, had found Shaw guilty of improper conduct injurious to the welfare of the university in connection with the case. President Steven C. Beering concurred with the committee's finding and ruled that the termination should occur immediately. Shaw, an assistant professor of industrial engineering, then appealed to the trustees. Following the ruling by the board, Beering stated: "I believe the trustees' action is both necessary and appropriate to send a clear message that the university will not tolerate harassment of a student. This decision means that Dr. Shaw's appointment to the faculty is terminated immediately. The harassing conduct he directed against an undergraduate student continued for two years before she reported it. I want our students to understand that Purdue's anti-harassment policy gives them the right to a harassment-free environment. As stated in the policy's preamble: 'It is essential that Purdue University demonstrate its intellectual leadership by reaffirming its strong position against harassment in all forms.' Today's action makes that position clear." When felony charges against Shaw were filed in October 1996, he was removed from the classroom and reassigned to duties that did not bring him into regular contact with undergraduate students. The trustees' decision means that Shaw's employment is terminated immediately. His contract with the university would have expired May 16. The university earlier had notified him that the contract would not be renewed regardless of the outcome of the censure and dismissal process. The committee report states that Shaw's "pursuit of an unreciprocated relationship caused the student emotional distress" ... and "significantly diminished her educational experience" over a two-year period. The report notes: "Of particular concern ... was Dr. Shaw's failure to change a pattern of behavior that, on the evidence of his own letters to (her), he knew upset her. His role as an assistant professor and her status as an undergraduate student heightened the scrutiny by which his actions should be judged. Dr. Shaw aggressively pursued this student despite repeated indications, which any reasonable person would recognize, that she did not welcome his advances." In the criminal case, a jury earlier this fall acquitted Shaw of two felony counts of stalking the same student. Beering noted, however, that the criminal proceedings have no bearing on the university's action. In addition, he said, "What is improper and injurious to the university may not be criminal, but it is still wrong." The accusations against Shaw include visiting the woman's residence hall unannounced, uninvited and unescorted on two occasions; berating the student at a Christian fellowship gathering because she refused to go on a date with him; and traveling uninvited to her parents' home in New York. Source: Steven C. Beering, (765) 494-9708 Writer: Jeanne V. Norberg, (765) 494-2084; e-mail, jeanne_norberg@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page