Some of you will have seen the post the other day. Apparently I made a girl “uncomfortable” via a text exchange (I assure you, there was nothing untoward on my part).
I pressed the University for details, and now I am told I am being formally investigated. They’ve formally accused me of misconduct, now, and told me that I must speak to them over the phone, this week…
For various reasons I won’t go into, I simply cannot do the phone thing, this week. I just can’t. I’ve told them so, and I’ve also told them that I will be seeking legal advice.
They linked me to a web page which essentially, very nebulously, outlines that anyone can make an allegation against a student, even anonymously, and it will be investigated, even if the situation in question has nothing to do with the University…
It even says “Anything can be sexual harassment, even if it only occurs once”. So I gather that is what I am up for…
Fuck me. This is so fucked…
I can’t link it, because I don’t want to identify the University directly…
I’ve copied the text in question above.
This is Australia.
Realistically, at this point, I will probably speak to a lawyer, especially as the person “investigating” me just told me not to do that…
They want to keep it “informal”, apparently, which is why they are trying to force me to converse over the phone, rather than email…
Fucking fuck.
Refuse to talk over the phone. Get everything in writing regardless of what else you do.
Not probably. Do it mate! Now. Instead of talking to us, you should be talking with a lawyer.
She's not got your best interests at heart, so yeah, do the opposite of her advice.
I'm just trying to work out my options, plus financial practicalities at the moment...
Then I will see about the lawyer situation.
Struggling (obviously)...
I'm seconding this guy's advice. We're doing our best here but ultimately only a lawyer in your jurisdiction can give you the kind of advice you need. Just to repeat: DO NOT speak to them by phone or in person. Keep it by email ideally, and if they try to ambush you do what the other guy and said and pull out your phone, start recording, and loudly say that you're recording. Also refuse to speak about incident.
If it were me, I would preface every phone call or in person meeting with "I am recording the conversation", and then doing so. Keep your phone in a holster in case you need to quick draw.
He shouldn't be interacting with them unless they're on the other side of a computer screen. If I were him I'd say we're doing this over email or not at all. If nothing else it's proof that they're being sleazy by not wanting to leave a record, which isn't a sign they're doing things on the level.
u/bamboozler1 I'd also suggest backing up any emails if this is a school email. Send your whole inbox and any further communications to an account you control, because they may very well lock you out of the system. You need access to any records to get any use out of them.