Sexual harassment suit filed against UCLA

Sunday, July 7, 1996

Victim alleges chemistry professor abused his role as an
academic advisorBy Karen Duryea

Summer Bruin Senior Staff

At 2 p.m. on July 1, alleged sexual harassment victim Diane
Reifschneider spoke at an organized press conference of her motives
behind suing UCLA.

Her lawsuit, filed that same day against the university,
Chancellor Charles Young and Professors of Chemistry and
Biochemistry Malcolm Nicol and Charles Knobler alleges that she was
sexually harassed by Nicol over a period of two years.

Reifschneider is a doctoral candidate for chemistry and
biochemistry and has studied at UCLA as a graduate student for the
past six years. Her lawyer, James De Simone of Schonbrun & De
Simone, contended that his client was sexually harassed by Nicol
beginning in the summer of 1993.

Nicol, a graduate of Amherst College and UC Berkeley, was
Reifschneider’s academic advisor in the chemistry department. He
had control over the graduate student obtaining her doctorate,
according to her filed complaint. This relationship was emphasized
by Reifschneider and her lawyers as "a system of forced
dependency."

"The university has turned a blind eye to the victims of sexual
harassment," De Simone said. "The university ignores the source of
the problem ­ the vast power that UCLA possesses and wields
over their graduate students, and when that power is abused, the
result is sexual coercion."

Nicol could not be reached for comment. However, immediately
after the press conference, UCLA released a formal response on
behalf of the whole university.

"UCLA takes very seriously its obligation to maintain a campus
environment free of all forms of intimidation. We treat any and all
allegations of sexual harassment with the utmost seriousness,"
according to the statement.

Reifschneider’s lawsuit follows closely on the heels of a sex
discrimination case filed by UCLA economics professor Sule Ozler in
November. Ozler alleged that she was sexually harassed and
discriminated by faculty members when she sought tenure.

The university also continues to investigate sexual harassment
allegations filed by former staff member Elo Carrillo against a
former visiting professor. The investigation’s progress, like all
other sexual harassment complaints dealt with at the university
level, are kept confidential for legal and privacy purposes,
officials said.

Reifschneider, according to her filed complaint, said she began
her internal remedies with the university by formally complaining
about the alleged harassment in August 1995.

UCLA standard procedure for sexual harassment outlines a
resolution process, of which Reifschneider initiated by speaking to
a Campus Ombudsman, De Simone said.

"Our client has cooperated with the university and their
investigations," De Simone said. "The university has sustained a
finding of probable cause that our client was sexually
harassed."

Yet UCLA’s formal response issued Monday afternoon suggests that
no such conclusions were reached.

"Whenever we receive a complaint of sexual harassment, we
conduct a very extensive investigation as quickly as possible," the
release stated. "We have been investigating this particular
complaint and will consider what actions to take when the facts
become clear. Personnel privacy considerations prevent UCLA from
commenting further at this time."

At the press conference, held on the west steps of Murphy Hall,
Reifschneider described her alleged experiences at UCLA.

She said that it was difficult to come forward with her
accusations, for fear of retaliation, shame and humiliation.She
claimed that in the early stages, she had discussed the problem
with colleagues who provided no support.

"For several months leading up to April of 1995, I began to
suffer a disturbing pattern of flu-like illnesses, and increasingly
frequent lapses of concentration until eventually, I completely
withdrew from all personal and professional association,"
Reifschneider said.

The alleged victim described her mental and physical breakdown,
blaming it on the extreme distress caused by Nicol and his alleged
unwelcome sexual advances and assaults. But Reifschneider is now on
her way to recovery and now wants to take action, she said last
week.

"When I first considered taking formal action on this issue, I
asked myself, ‘what if this were my daughter?’ ­ and I
realized that challenging the system is the only way to change this
from ever taking place, so that one day, our children will never
have to learn what I learned in school," Reifschneider said.

Reifschneider’s complaint additionally names Chancellor Charles
Young and Professor of Chemistry Charles Knobler as defendants. She
accuses them of failing to protect her from Nicol’s alleged
activity, despite UCLA’s policy mentioned in their press
release.

"UCLA has developed detailed procedures on sexual harassment
that are widely distributed and are readily made use of by
complainants," the release stated.

Reifschneider and her lawyers are seeking compensation for
medical bills, as well as for the physical, emotional and mental
breakdown that she claims she endured as a result of the alleged
harassment. They are also demanding an investigation into the
practice and policies used for sexual harassment at the graduate
level.

SHAWN LAKSMI

Diane Reifschneider announced last Monday that she is suing the
university.