The field planning and urban design has seen relatively little in the way of controversy or consequences since the #MeToo movement gained a foothold in the public consciousness. The status quo ended this week.
The University of California, Berkeley has suspended Nezar AlSayyad, professor of architecture, city planning, urban design, and urban history as punishment for "a pattern of sexual harassment."
Cynthia Dizikes and Nanette Asimov report: "AlSayyad is an internationally recognized scholar and speaker who has taught at UC Berkeley since 1985. He was barred from teaching courses in 2016, when The Chronicle broke the story of the harassment findings. Within days, students demanded his removal."
"But AlSayyad, 62, continued collecting his $211,000-a-year salary, serving on academic committees and advising students. In November, he faced a hearing in the faculty senate, which deliberated four months before recommending that Christ suspend him for one year because of the sexual harassment. "
"The chancellor tripled the suspension after determining that the tenured professor also abused his faculty powers."
Eva Hagberg Fisher is on Twitter and has spoken publically about the long process leading up to the decision to suspend AlSayyad this week.
i feel like i've been pushing on an immovable wall for 2.5 years and now the wall is gone and i have no idea what to do with myself
i kind of want to cry? have been so keeping it together to stay on message that i have no idea what rest looks like now— Eva Hagberg Fisher (@evahagberg) August 21, 2018
Hat tip to jack Balderrama Morley for sharing the news.
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