Lesbian Feminist Suspended For Sexually Harassing A Gay Student

A lesbian NYU professor, philosopher and feminist, Avital Ronell, has been suspended by New York University after the school found that she sexually harassed a gay male student, Nimrod Reitman.

An 11-month Title IX investigation found Professor Ronell, responsible for sexual harassment, both physical and verbal, to the extent that her behavior was “sufficiently pervasive to alter the terms and conditions of Reitman’s learning environment.”

In the Title IX final report, excerpts of which were obtained by The New York Times, Reitman said that she had sexually harassed him for three years, and shared dozens of emails in which she referred to him as “my most adored one,” “Sweet cuddly Baby,” “cock-er spaniel,” and “my astounding and beautiful Nimrod.”

Coming in the middle of the #MeToo movement’s reckoning over sexual misconduct, it raised a challenge for feminists — how to respond when one of their own behaved badly.

Reitman, who is married to a man, says Ronell kissed and touched him repeatedly, held his hand, forced herself in his bed, would call and email him nonstop and refused to work with him if he did not comply.

Her suspension has prompted a group of about 50 scholars and prominent feminists from around the world to send a letter to NYU defending their colleague, who they call ‘one of the very few philosopher-stars of this world’.