Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 24, 1994 TAG: 9402240150
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Mary Van Arsdel's suit in Roanoke's federal court alleges that Joseph Franchina, who teaches psychology, subjected her to unwelcome sexual advances throughout 1992.
Franchina, a Tech faculty member since 1969, was asked not to teach classes this semester, but school officials wouldn't confirm that the unpaid suspension was linked to the harassment charges.
"The university followed all of the proper procedures in this matter," spokesman Dave Nutter said. He wouldn't say if Tech's Ethics Committee investigated the charges.
An internal memo Franchina wrote to other members of the psychology department refers to some of the professor's problems.
"I want to express my sincere regret for whatever distress or upset any of you may have experienced as a result of concerns about my behavior," said the Nov. 3 memo. "I want to assure you . . . that I will avoid being part of such issues in the future. It is my desire to place these matters behind us."
Franchina declined to comment when reached at his Blacksburg home Wednesday.
Van Arsdel, who is in her early 40s, has been an undergraduate psychology student since 1990. Franchina was her faculty adviser in 1992.
Van Arsdel could not be reached for comment, and a call to her attorney was not returned.
In her suit, she student said the professor's harassment included "unwelcome sexual advances, comments and touching, including sexual intercourse."
She alleges that Franchina sabotaged her research and gave her an incomplete grade when she "made it clear" that she did not want to have a sexual relationship with him.
Van Arsdel says she reported the incident to Tech administrators in November 1992 and to the school's Equal Employment Opportunity Office the following month, but Franchina was allowed to continue supervising her work.
As a result of the harassment, Van Arsdel became suicidal and was forced to seek mental health treatment, the suit says. She has lost job opportunities, educational opportunities and suffered humiliation, it says.
by CNB