ROHNERT PARK, Calif. (KCBS RADIO) – After months of accusations surrounding the handling of sexual harassment allegations, the president of Sonoma State University has decided to step down.
For more, stream KCBS Radio now.
Sonoma State President Judy Sakaki made the announcement on Monday, stating it has been an honor, but she has decided to step down so that the campus community can move forward.
The announcement comes less than two months after Sakaki was accused of retaliating against an SSU provost who had brought claims of sexual harassment against Sakaki's husband to the chancellor's office. The provost, identified as Lisa Vollendorf, reported that several women had accused McCallum of unwanted touching and sexual comments, according to the Los Angeles Times.
"This is a part of a reckoning against the whole school system," said David McCuan, SSU professor and chair of the Department of Political Science.
"While universities may talk a good game about Title IX and about protection of students from sexual harassment, they don't always put their money where their mouth is," he said. "When they do put their money towards what's going on, they usually are settlements or high buyouts. All of this created a series of bad moves and poor publicity for a university and a great set of difficulties that led to the president not showing up to graduation."
McCuan was part of a group that issued a vote of no confidence against the president, who he said didn't really have a choice but to resign.
Sakaki was the first Japanese American woman in the nation to be appointed president of a four year college. She will be officially stepping down at the end of next month.
An interim will be appointed soon, according to the school.
DOWNLOAD the Audacy App
SIGN UP and follow KCBS Radio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Related
