Northwestern Star Professor Accused of Sexual Assault, Nothing Happens

In February of 2012, a 19-year-old female student at Northwestern University alleged that tenured and highly popular philosophy professor Peter Ludlow sexually assaulted her after driving her to an off-campus art show, illegally plying her with alcohol, making a series of sexual advances that she repeatedly declined, and finally, when she was too drunk to resist, taking her back to his apartment where the student claims she blacked out only to then wake up in his arms with her blouse unbuttoned.

The student reported the incident to Northwestern authorities and an investigation was launched by the school’s Sexual Harassment Prevention Office. After interviewing both the young woman and Ludlow, the office ended up siding in the student’s favor, finding that Ludlow exhibited “unwelcome and inappropriate sexual advances.” The student was informed that the Sexual Harassment Prevention Office would “work with the [dean’s] office on implementing needed corrective and remedial actions.” And then…and then practically nothing.

Ludlow was allowed to continue teaching with full privileges (although Northwestern is now claiming he was refused an endowment chair, was required to do sensitivity training and denied a raise following the incident). According to Joan E. Slavin, who conducted the investigation, “there has never been any recommendation” that Ludlow lose his job. He continues to work at Northwestern and has recently accepted a tenured position at Rutgers where he did not disclose the past charges against him. Additionally, Ludlow’s lawyers are quick to shutdown any talk of the incident from news outlets by threatening defamation lawsuits because — and this should be noted — Ludlow has never been accused nor found guilty of anything in the court of law.