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Markkula Center for Applied Ethics

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Cal State Sexual Harassment Scandal: Your Questions Answered

John Pelissero, senior scholar, quoted by CalMatters.

When it comes to the resignation of California State University Chancellor Joseph I. Castro in the wake of evidence showing that he mishandled sexual harassment allegations, there are many ethical questions that need to be considered. Every actor in this situation, from the university to its leaders, has a part to play in the unfolding of these events.

When an administrator is dismissed, Pelissero said, “it would not be unusual for members of the university community to question why if this person wasn’t qualified, competent, to remain as an administrator, why you would get them another position in the university they didn’t previously hold.” Pelissero added that university leaders have an ethical responsibility to tell the department that’s being asked to award tenure the reasons why that administrator stepped down.

John Pelissero, senior scholar, quoted by CalMatters.

Ethics
government, media