University professor Corneliu Gașpar, 57 years old, head of works at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Life Sciences in Iași, was fired after the Ethics Commission found that he had sexually assaulted a student right in his office.
University professor from Iași, fired PHOTO: Iasi newspaper
The victim reported to the university that on July 9, after a late exam, she was called to the professor’s office to discuss the grade. According to the complaint, the teacher sexually assaulted her without consent.
Later, the young woman noticed that the note had not been modified. She tried to talk to him, and the teacher allegedly kissed and touched her again, inappropriately. These acts would have taken place in the halls of the university and would have been captured by the surveillance cameras.
Later, the young woman reported the teacher to the police.
“Non-consensual oral sexual act – rape – happened on the university campus, in the teacher’s office (…), on the student”it is stated in the report of the Ethics Commission.
To reach this decision, the teacher’s colleagues interviewed the student, her roommates and other students. The professor was dismissed from all teaching and research positions, and the university also notified the criminal authorities. The police and the Prosecutor’s Office have opened a criminal case for rape.
“The moment the university was notified, the complaint was registered. The board of directors immediately met, a disciplinary investigation committee was then established – I thought it was only at the disciplinary level, but it was found that the facts were more serious. The disciplinary committee forwarded the file to the University Ethics Commission; at the same time, a complaint was made to the Iasi Municipality Police and the Prosecutor’s Office, and the student in question also made complaints to the university center police, the municipal police and so on,” declared university prof. dr. Vasile Stoleru, vice-chancellor responsible for social activities, for “Ziarul de Iasi”.
The professor, who taught several subjects including “Academic Ethics and Integrity,” has been placed on unpaid leave and can appeal the university’s decision to the Ministry of Education.
