I was targeted for sexual harassment

In New College at ASU West Valley

Sexual Harassment and Discrimination at ASU West Valley

On Thursday morning, I arrived at my office at Arizona State University to find that my door had been vandalized with a sexualized AI image of Trump and Putin.

This was not a random act. I was targeted for this unwanted sexualized imagery. It was meant to create an environment of sexual harassment for me at my work.

Creating such images becomes illegal when AI is used to depict real people, and it becomes workplace sexual harassment when sexualized images are used to make an employee feel uncomfortable. What will ASU do to find the culprit? How will social justice be upheld?

Will colleagues say, “it's not a big deal, it’s just a joke, why can’t you have a sense of humor when your office is vandalized with sexually suggestive images?” Well, this lewd image meets ASU’s definition of creating a sexually harassing work environment and ASU must take it seriously and find out who is abusing me.

[this is the image, although I covered part of it to protect my readers]

According to ASU’s policies, creating or contributing to a hostile work environment through sexually explicit imagery or behavior constitutes sexual harassment. Here is the quote from ACD 401:

Sexual Harassment-Environment

Sexual harassment is also unwelcome behavior or conduct of a sexual nature (including unwelcome sexual advances or activity), which is sufficiently severe or pervasive as to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for academic pursuits, employment, or participation in university-sponsored programs or activities.

In cases of sexual harassment, it is never the role of the abuser or the bystanders to tell the victim how they should feel—“What’s the big deal?”, “Why are you upset?”, or “Just lighten up.” And yet, it would not be surprising if, as the victim, I am the one who ends up being shamed simply for speaking up.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated event. As I’ve previously documented here on Substack, far-left political and anti-Christian ideology is front and center in many of ASU’s New College and the School of Humanities Arts and Cultural Studies faculty meetings.

I’ve requested that we keep these meetings focused on faculty business.

In response, our dean told me that the meeting’s director has the right to infuse far-left political content into our meetings—such as a Native American Land Acknowledgement—if they so desire. Whatever the political opinions of the director, however far left, we must be made to sit through them simply because they are the director. When I asked if I could have equal time to express other views of land ownership, I was told “no”—only the director’s view matters.

I’ve also reported here how evangelical Christians are openly mocked in meetings, and how these comments are brushed aside as “free speech” or minimized by a colleague as "not that big of a deal.” But here’s the thing: ASU’s definition of discrimination clearly excludes religious harassment from being protected speech among faculty at work. The policy doesn’t allow for religious targeting while working, whether overt or veiled in ideological language. Why are my requests for help ignored and minimized?

Now it has come to this—my office being vandalized to target me for sexual harassment. Silence and ignoring my pleas for help has led to this increased abuse. The School that claims to want to help the oppressed and marginalized has

I have the right to a safe workplace, free from sexual harassment and religious discrimination.

But right now, I do not feel safe. I feel targeted. I feel like my workplace is one where sexual bullying and religious bigotry are not only tolerated but emboldened. And as a victim of sexual harassment, I want to know that my College and School will be active in finding the culprit.

What’s worse: how many faculty members walked past my door, saw the vandalism, and said nothing?

We know that their silence is complicity.

In the past, when I have asked for help, no help has been given.

I am now left wondering not only who did this and will they be caught, but whether ASU will protect me. How will I be reassured that I can be at my office or on campus and safe from being attacked for sexual harassment again?

As a victim of sexual harassment, the trauma has left me in dread of coming to work, knowing I may again be made the object of such attacks.

Even the thought of going to my office brings up anxious feelings and the memories of what it was like to see that I had been targeted with this AI image. What once was a pleasant job of teaching philosophy now leaves me with apprehension and the realization I am not safe at work.

Far-left political ideology is privileged and protected in ASU’s New College and School of Humanities Arts and Cultural Studies. Did that communicate to someone that victimizing me is acceptable behavior that won’t lead to any disciplinary actions for the abuser? It may even be seen as a fun story to laugh about at the wine and cheese parties.

What will ASU do to guarantee that I will be given the same rights as everyone else to be safe at work and free from sexual harassment? I want to see the security camera videos in the building which will reveal who did this. If ASU has the desire, it can find out the identity of this person and bring them to social justice for targeting me for sexual harassment and vandalism.

Please share my story with as many friends as you can and ask them to subscribe to support my efforts to achieve equal rights at the secular university so that Christians can work in safety and peace.