woensdag, mei 07, 2003
Ohio University is poised to adopt a policy that will ban professors from taking nude photos of students within their own departments. And it has replaced - at least temporarily - the department head whose topless photos of a female student inspired the new policy. The university's actions come two weeks after a former student filed a $3 million lawsuit against OU and one of its most acclaimed employees, Larry Nighswander, an award-winning photographer who heads the nationally ranked School of Visual Communication.
Filed on behalf of Youngstown native Rebecca Humes, the suit accuses Nighswander of violating Humes' civil rights by touching her breast and making inappropriate sexual comments while taking topless photos of her last fall. Nighswander does not dispute taking photos of Humes or other students. He said he made no sexual comments or gestures and insisted the pictures were used "as examples of how to light a subject." Humes filed a sexual harassment complaint against Nighswander last fall, but an internal tribunal cleared him in March.
Some members of the Faculty Senate questioned the validity of the probe, saying the university appeared "eager"' to clear its famous photographer. The panel is expected to decide this week whether to launch an investigation of its own. In the meantime, the university is close to approving a policy that would set guidelines for faculty who take nude or semi-nude photos of students. No policy exists today. The initial draft would have allowed department heads such as Nighswander to continue to photograph students within their departments - if proper consent is given. Under the latest draft, nude or semi-nude models could only come from other departments, Brown said.
Bron: The Plain Dealer.
Filed on behalf of Youngstown native Rebecca Humes, the suit accuses Nighswander of violating Humes' civil rights by touching her breast and making inappropriate sexual comments while taking topless photos of her last fall. Nighswander does not dispute taking photos of Humes or other students. He said he made no sexual comments or gestures and insisted the pictures were used "as examples of how to light a subject." Humes filed a sexual harassment complaint against Nighswander last fall, but an internal tribunal cleared him in March.
Some members of the Faculty Senate questioned the validity of the probe, saying the university appeared "eager"' to clear its famous photographer. The panel is expected to decide this week whether to launch an investigation of its own. In the meantime, the university is close to approving a policy that would set guidelines for faculty who take nude or semi-nude photos of students. No policy exists today. The initial draft would have allowed department heads such as Nighswander to continue to photograph students within their departments - if proper consent is given. Under the latest draft, nude or semi-nude models could only come from other departments, Brown said.
Bron: The Plain Dealer.
# posted by Jan-Edward : 14:54
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