Juilliard Fires Professor Accused of Sexually Harassing Students
The New York Times An investigation found credible evidence that Robert Beaser, a composition professor, had engaged in misconduct, the school said.
The Juilliard School has fired a composition professor accused of sexually harassing students after an independent investigation found credible evidence that he had engaged in misconduct, the school said in a letter to students, staff, faculty and alumni on Thursday.
Juilliard said the professor, Robert Beaser, 69, who served as chair of the composition department from 1994 to 2018, had behaved in a manner that was inconsistent with Juilliards commitment to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for its students. The school did not elaborate, saying only that the investigation had found evidence of a past unreported relationship and that Beaser had repeatedly misrepresented facts about his actions.
Richard C. Schoenstein, a lawyer for Beaser, denied that his client had misled his employer. He said the relationship in question took place three decades ago, had been known to Juilliard since then and had been the subject of previous inquiries. He called the schools findings unspecific and unattributed and said that Beaser would pursue his legal rights in full.
