USC's dean of the School of Dramatic Arts was forced to resign Thursday after a former student revealed at a town hall that the two had had a relationship.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Dean David Bridel sent a letter to faculty admitting the relationship but refuting the student's description of it. The two dated when the student was a BFA senior in 2009.
“I fully accept, however, that my behavior in 2009 demonstrated a failure in judgment and evidence of irresponsibility,” he wrote. “I apologize, profusely, for any harm I caused by my conduct in 2009.”
Provost Charles Zukoski announced that he'd accepted Bridel's resignation.
The LA Times reports that the school is investigating the allegation.
According to the USC website, Bridel served as dean of the USC School of Dramatic Arts from 2016 to 2020. Prior to his appointment as dean, he served as interim dean of the School of Dramatic Arts (2015-2016), associate dean of global initiatives (2013-2015), and director of the school’s MFA in Acting program (2014-2016).
Citing systemic failures in the university's response to allegations of sexual misconduct by then-campus gynecologist George Tyndall, the U.S. Department of Education announced in February it is mandating sweeping changes in USC's Title IX procedures and subjecting the school to three years of federal monitoring.
"This total and complete failure to protect students is heartbreaking and inexcusable," U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said in a statement announcing the results of the federal Title IX probe. "Too many at USC turned a blind eye to evidence that Dr. Tyndall was preying on students for years.
"We are grateful to every survivor who came forward to share their story with our (Office of Civil Rights) investigators," she said. "Because of your bravery, we can now work with the university to ensure this never happens to another student on USC's campus."