Attorney says USN mishandled sexual misconduct complaint
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University School of Nashville in 2013. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for ACM
University School of Nashville, one of the city's most prestigious private schools, failed to adequately investigate a student's complaint that a teacher "groomed" her and engaged in "sexual misconduct" that included unwanted kisses and touching, according to a letter from the student's attorney.
- Dean Masullo served as the faculty adviser for the school's Gender and Sexuality Alliance and taught literature.
The latest: USN said it fired Masullo after an investigation into the student's claims found that his behavior had been inappropriate.
Why it matters: Attorney Alex Little, a former federal prosecutor, said in an Aug. 22 letter to USN's board — which was sent after USN's investigation and the teacher's firing — that he and the student, who graduated earlier this year, wanted the school to improve its response to such complaints.
- Little said the school had not done enough to investigate the teacher's pattern of conduct, and the possibility that other students were subjected to similar experiences.
What they're saying: USN confirmed to Axios that it brought in a law firm to lead a "third-party" investigation into the student's claims. The school says it immediately removed Masullo, then fired him.
- "The safety and well-being of our USN community are always top priority," a USN spokesperson said in the statement.
- "It became clear during the investigation that the teacher's behavior was inappropriate and that he violated USN's policies, breaking trust with our community. That is why he was terminated."
Masullo did not respond to messages sent to a phone number connected to him.
USN did not answer questions about what steps if any it took to determine if there are complaints from other students.
- "If any of those involved had provided information to the investigators that indicated more serious concerns, they and USN would have immediately reported it to state agencies and law enforcement as required by Tennessee law," the spokesperson said.
Zoom in: The student says the teacher took her on an out-of-town trip and to the Belcourt movie theater, according to her attorney's letter. The two also watched a movie alone together in his classroom.
- The teacher frequently bought the student gifts, including showing up unexpectedly at the mall where she was shopping for a prom dress to buy her shoes.
- The letter says the student "escaped without sexual abuse but not unharmed."
Axios does not typically identify people who claim they have been victims of sexual misconduct.
According to the letter, the student was subjected to unwanted touching, including hugs and kisses on the forehead.
- Little writes that the teacher once grabbed the student by the waist and put his hand under her shirt and coat on her lower back. The student said he grabbed her face in both his hands and kissed her on her cheek "for at least 20 seconds."
- On another occasion, the teacher set up his classroom so that he and the student could watch a movie alone together, according to the letter. He locked the door without explanation and covered the windows. Then, Little writes, the teacher held her hand throughout the movie.
"I was incredibly uncomfortable and didn't want to be in the room or especially holding his hand," Little quotes the student as saying. "I was trying not to cry and trying to figure out how to leave throughout the whole movie. But he wouldn't let go of my hand and kept moving his chair closer to me, eventually pressing his leg up against mine. Afterwards I left and ran to the bathroom and cried, panicking."
The teacher took the student and two of her classmates on a trip to look at architecture in Columbus, Indiana. During the trip, the letter states, the teacher asked the student to come to his hotel room alone, which she didn't do.
- The letter also states the teacher invited the student to stay in a hotel room with him and his wife after a Bob Dylan concert in Louisville.
Eventually, the student alerted teachers and the USN administration to the incidents.
- The student initially found USN's response promising. The teacher was immediately suspended, Little writes.
- The school then hired a Nashville law firm to handle its inquiry into the teacher.
- Little's letter bashes USN for handling the issue as an employment matter, instead of focusing on the health and well-being of students.
The student shared some details on social media, and the letter states other students reached out to her and told of similar experiences with the same teacher. Little tells Axios about 10 former students reached out to his client.
- "In nearly every case, the target of his behavior was a female or gay student, often a member of the (Gender and Sexuality Alliance), and he would attempt to estrange these students from their parents," Little said in his letter.
- It's unclear if any of the other students contacted school officials.
The big picture: Little's letter says USN should have developed a support system for students who experience sexual harassment.
- The school also should have provided the "USN community with complete and accurate information," according to Little's letter. He said the school should have sought to identify other potential victims.
- And the school should apologize to the student, Little says.
The bottom line: In the letter, Little says his client doesn't want to sue USN "or drag anyone into court," but wants to bolster USN's policies to help students and prevent similar incidents. Little tells Axios that USN's board of directors has not responded to his letter.