College staff misconduct · Accused: theatre professor and later interim assistant dean
Six former theatre students alleged that a theatre professor groomed young women, made sexual comments about students, touched them in ways they found offensive and began a sexual relationship with one student. They also alleged the university failed to protect them after reports starting in 2017.
Status: Alleged in a 2021 federal lawsuit (Summar v. University of Central Oklahoma). In a 2017 Title IX review the university found him not responsible. Students say that in 2020 the university reported he admitted full responsibility for one student's allegations, and the matter was handled through informal resolution.
Response: The university restricted his travel with certain students in 2018. It moved to dismiss the lawsuit.