I believe I can speak for all of us when I say it is wrong to touch the breasts of a woman without her permission (no matter how perfect they look). It is also inappropriate to refer to the sexuality of a woman. However, this morality is not shared by some males, possibly including some members of the Binghamton faculty.
According to The New York Times, Elizabeth Williams, the BU regional director of major gifts, has sent her sexual harassment complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) regarding the conduct of two senior members of the Binghamton athletics department. Jason Siegel, the associate director of athletics, and Chris Lewis, the assistant athletic director for development, are accused of “egregious acts of sexual misconduct” toward Williams. Williams claims to have been physically and verbally abused since first working with the athletics department on Jan. 5 when Lewis told Williams that she needed to entertain a donor at a Binghamton game because he likes “chesty, loud-mouthed women.” From everything to grabbing one of her breasts to suggesting she strip for a donor’s bachelor’s party, the lewd and crude behavior described by Williams seems absolutely unprofessional for two Binghamton staff members. Although these allegations have yet to be confirmed, there are certainly concerns that they may be true.
Wow, sexual harassment at our beloved “Premier Public University of the Northeast” … who would have thought it could happen? Why couldn’t Siegel and Lewis relieve their sexual tension at a more appropriate place like all other older gentlemen … in a strip club. Women have been fighting to be taken seriously in the workplace for decades and it seems their struggle has yet to end. Since Williams has gone public with her sexual harassment complaint, her chances of winning settlement money have dropped considerably. According to The New York Times, she has also been locked out of her office, the security code for her voicemail was changed without her knowledge and she has been stripped of almost all of her responsibilities. It seems unfair that the victim is being treated as the suspect. Siegel is still doing his job while Lewis is in North Carolina with the Binghamton basketball team.
For now, it seems this issue of sexual harassment is not being taken seriously and will probably be settled with a substantial amount of money. It is embarrassing that something as humiliating as sexual harassment can be settled with some zeroes on a check. It seems that money really can buy everything … except proper work ethics for Siegel and Lewis.