University of Washington Nobel Laureate Faces Sexual Harassment Allegations

[ad_1]

By Heather Hollingsworth Associated Press

ST. LOUIS Washington University is investigating a Nobel laureate for sexual harassment allegations that the economist’s lawyer dismisses as a professional rivalry.”

Philip Dybvig, who shared this year’s Nobel Prize in economics for bank failure research, has been questioned in recent weeks by the university’s Title IX office, his lawyer, Andrew Miltenberg, said. at the Associated Press.

Miltenberg said the allegations were factually inaccurate. Dybvig, a longtime banking and finance professor at the university, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Dybvig, fellow U.S. economist Douglas W. Diamond, and former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke won the Nobel Prize in Economics in October for their research on bank failures that drew on lessons learned from the Great Depression and helped shape Americas aggressive response to the 2007-2008 crisis. financial crisis.

People also read…

Findings from the early 1980s laid the foundation for regulating financial markets, the Nobel panel said.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences’ Nobel Prize jury on Monday recognized Bernanke, Douglas W. Diamond and Philip Dybvig for their research that shows why avoiding bank failures is vital.

Bloomberg News reported that it had reviewed emails showing that the Title IX office, which handles sexual harassment complaints on campus, had contacted at least three former students since October to ask them about the claims.

They are among a group of seven former students that Bloomberg reported speaking with who allege Dybvig sexually harassed them. Most of the women interviewed by Bloomberg spoke on condition of anonymity.

Tore Ellingsen, chairman of the Nobel Prize in Economics committee, told Bloomberg that the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which oversees the prizes, contacted the university to make sure it had a fair process. to deal with the charges.

Until the university determines that Dybvig did something wrong, I think we owe him an unsullied celebration of his great scientific achievement, Ellingsen told Bloomberg.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner and the Foundation did not immediately respond to email messages from the AP.

The university did not immediately respond to emails and phone messages from the AP on Friday. University spokeswoman Julie Flory told Bloomberg that the school does not comment on specific cases, but takes sexual misconduct seriously and will investigate any allegations.

Miltenberg said he was suspicious of the timing of the allegations, noting that they surfaced after the award was announced but before the scheduled awards ceremony.

We believe,” he said, that this is a situation of professional rivalry.”

Miltenberg said Dybvig faced no restrictions and was already scheduled not to teach in the spring semester long before the allegations.

Miltenberg said he understands the investigation is in the preliminary stages and that the Title IX office wants to speak with Dybvig again.

Stay up to date on life and culture in St. Louis.

[ad_2]