Cambridge, MA — In a recent legal development, Harvard University reached a settlement with three graduate students who previously filed a lawsuit accusing the institution of mishandling their sexual harassment claims against a former professor. According to court documents released Wednesday, the parties mutually agreed to dismiss the case, incurring no costs and with prejudice, effectively bringing a close to the dispute.
Margaret G. Czerwienski, Lilia M. Kilburn, and Amulya Mandava, the suing students, asserted that the university failed to act appropriately after allegations surfaced that John L. Comaroff, a professor affiliated with the Anthropology and African and African American Studies departments, had sexually harassed students. Specifically, Kilburn claimed to be one of the harassed. The lawsuit further accused Harvard of allowing an environment where Comaroff could retaliate against Czerwienski and Mandava after they advised peers about his alleged misconduct.
This legal case transitioned to mediation under the guidance of Magistrate Judge M. Paige Kelly in November 2023, following the escalation of these serious accusations. This confidential mediation led to the settlement that was reported this week.
The controversy began more publicly after a 2020 investigation by Harvard’s student newspaper, which brought the accusations against Comaroff to light. Despite his consistent denial of the allegations through his legal representatives, the internal scrutiny by Harvard led to significant disciplinary measures against him.
Responding to the findings of its investigations, which confirmed violations of professional conduct and sexual harassment policies, Harvard’s then-Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Claudine Gay initially placed Comaroff on paid administrative leave in August 2020. The situation escalated to an unpaid suspension as the university sought to limit his interactions with students by barring him from teaching necessary courses until at least fall 2023.
Comaroff’s career at Harvard saw a further downturn when he retired in June without the honor of emeritus status, a notable omission given the circumstances of his departure. Whether emeritus status might later be conferred remains uncertain.
As of now, neither Harvard officials nor the attorneys representing the graduate students have issued public comments regarding the settlement. Similarly, there has been no response from Comaroff’s attorney regarding the latest resolution.
This case underscores ongoing challenges and criticisms faced by academic institutions in handling allegations of misconduct, balancing procedural fairness while advocating for the safety and well-being of students. It also highlights the broader implications of such serious allegations on the careers and lives of those involved, reshaping how universities manage and respond to reports of sexual harassment within their communities.