A sexual harassment allegation led to David Wasson’s exit as executive sports editor of the Tuscaloosa News, and led to his resignation as an adjunct instructor at the University of Alabama.
The allegations of sexual harassment were first reported in the Crimson White Thursday, but the parties were nameless due to privacy policies at UA. On Friday morning, a terse note was published by the Tuscaloosa News regarding Wasson’s resignation as executive sports editor. Wasson was sent an email by the capstonereport.com and left a private message on the tidesports.com site, but has not responded as of this morning (Saturday).
Doug Ray of the Tuscaloosa News posted a more detailed account Saturday explaining the situation behind Wasson’s ouster:
We reported briefly in Friday’s edition that David Wasson, our executive sports editor, had resigned. There is more to say about this, and I think this is the appropriate place to explain what I can and what I know.
Wasson has been accused of making sexually charged comments to a student at the University of Alabama who was in a class he taught as an adjunct professor. Wasson has resigned from that job, as well.
We became aware of these allegations on Wednesday when the father of the student called to tell us his daughter had been sexually harassed by Wasson. We called the university to confirm administrators had received a similar complaint and learned from Jennifer Greer, chairman of the Department of Journalism, that an investigation had been opened.
Later that day, I met with Wasson. I offered him the opportunity to resign. He accepted that offer on Thursday morning. He has declined to make any further comment.
We have no indication that Wasson did anything improper in his role as executive sports editor.
He recently finished his undergraduate coursework and graduated from UA with a degree in journalism last year. This was his second semester as an adjunct professor.
Doug Ray is the executive editor of The Tuscaloosa News. Reach him at 205-722-0190 or at doug.ray@tuscaloosanews.com.
It is interesting the Tuscaloosa News decided to wait a day to make this statement. In the Cecil Hurt situation, the newspaper was aggressive in attacking its employee and revealing as much information as possible excoriating Hurt for taking a $4,000 loan.
Why the delay? I’ve sent an email asking Mr. Ray, and if he responds, I’ll post an update here.
they might have waited to get some details because sexual harrassment is a very easy charge to make and the hardest for a man to defend himself against. (that and child molestation)