The chief of the Ohio University Police Department has resigned after being punished for allegedly sexually harassing a co-worker. It's the familiar story of he said/she said that results in complete and total ruin for the accused. Stephen Ramirez was put on a week's unpaid leave and made to attend "management" (i.e., sensitivity) training after Teresa Trussell filed a complaint last August alleging that between November 2001 and July 2002, Ramirez abused his authority by first trying to establish a sexual relationship with her and then attempting to bribe her into silence with the promise of promotion. Ramirez denied the charges, calling them a combination of distortions, fabrications, and falsehoods. He also appealed the findings of the Office of Institutional Equity as biased. He resigned when the media got hold of the story, and so did his wife, who was also a university employee. "The stress and pain that I and my family have felt is more than we can bear, and therefore my only recourse is to offer this resignation," Ramirez explained.

No matter: the university is satisfied that it followed correct procedure, and applauds Ramirez' resignation as "the best thing under the circumstances, in terms of the future of the organization."

Those who follow campus politics will recall that Ohio University is currently prosecuting journalism professor Patrick Washburn for sexual harassment--for showing a woman student a nutcracker in the shape of women's legs. They will also recall that the AAUP has become involved, expressing the suspicion that someone at OU is "exerting a great deal of energy to defame, humiliate and harass Professor Washburn" and citing numerous procedural violations, including failure to follow university policies, denial of Washburn's right to due process, failure to supply Washburn with the documents that bear on his case, and violation of Washburn's right to free speech. Ramirez does not have recourse to the AAUP--but it sounds like his claim that his case was not properly conducted may have some truth to it.