Denver professor found guilty of sexually harassing a student; student questions why he remains employed at the university.
The University of Denver’s civil rights office recently concluded an extensive investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against Professor Marco Nathan, resulting in a recommendation for his termination. The lengthy inquiry, which involved four separate investigators and spanned over a year, found Nathan responsible for creating a hostile environment for a graduate student, as detailed in the findings provided to Media News Source.
The former student, whose identity is being withheld due to privacy concerns related to her status as a victim of sexual misconduct, expressed her disbelief that Nathan remains employed by the university following the investigation. Documents disclose that the Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity identified Nathan’s actions as harassment based on sex. Despite the university’s findings, Nathan is currently working part-time off-campus and, according to university officials, does not interact with students.
University spokesperson Jon Stone emphasized the institution’s commitment to student safety and due process in handling discrimination or harassment claims. However, he declined to elaborate on Nathan’s case due to federal educational privacy laws that limit the disclosure of specific details.
Nathan, who has not publicly commented on the allegations, appealed the university’s determination, refuting the characterization of his interactions as sexual in nature. He maintained that the graduate student welcomed their exchanges. However, the civil rights office confirmed that their findings remained intact even after reviewing Nathan’s appeal, noting that his explanations were troubling.
In a broader context, the case comes amidst renewed national scrutiny surrounding sexual misconduct in academia, particularly against the backdrop of recent allegations at institutions such as Cornell University. Advocates for survivors have reiterated the significance of how universities handle such sensitive cases and the impact of power dynamics in reporting misconduct.
The former student, now in a Ph.D. program at a different university, illuminated the precariousness of reporting harassment within tight-knit academic communities, where interconnections can influence a victim’s career trajectory. She recounted her experience at the University of Denver, beginning in 2019, when she sought academic guidance from Nathan. Her relationship with him quickly deteriorated, leading to instances of emotional and physical discomfort during their interactions, including unclear boundaries and inappropriate behavior.
Despite her belief that she could not report Nathan without jeopardizing her career prospects, she ultimately reported her experiences to the university’s civil rights office after receiving encouragement from her new advisors. The investigation began in late 2024, revealing concerning patterns of Nathan’s conduct and concluding with a finding of harassment.
With 487 civil rights reports filed last academic year, only 55 cases were investigated and resolved, highlighting the challenges faced by educational institutions in addressing such allegations. The complexity of the Title IX process, coupled with protections offered by tenure, has made navigating faculty misconduct cases particularly intricate.
As of now, Nathan continues to be listed as a faculty member at the university. The former student hopes her story will empower others who have experienced similar situations and instigate meaningful change in how the university handles reports of misconduct.
