Dear Caroline,
I am writing in response to the letter you sent on 3/8/2019. Thank you for taking the time to
reach out to me and to share the policies and resources that you feel are relevant to
conversations we’ve had over the past several months regarding Barrett Watten’s behavior
toward me in and out of the classroom.
In your letter you include the Workplace Violence Policy which states:
the university will not tolerate any threat, direct or implied, of
physical harm to persons or property, or which disrupts or
interferes with another’s work performance, or which creates an
intimidating, offensive or hostile work or educational
environment.
You indicate that if I believe my rights have been violated pursuant to this policy, I should
provide you with a written complaint, along with supporting evidence.
I believe that on several occasions Barrett has violated this policy. While the scope of
Barrett’s behavior is difficult to “prove” with supporting evidence—he, like many seasoned
bullies, is skilled at avoiding a paper trail—I will do my best to provide you with evidence
when available.
Barrett’s behavior has interfered with and disrupted my work performance and has created
an intimidating, offensive, and hostile work and educational environment on numerous
occasions.
First, during the Fall 2018 semester as I was talking to a student in front of State Hall, Barrett
passed by me and waved. I was paying little attention to my surroundings, as I was listening
to a student, and Barrett approached us and demanded to know why I didn’t wave back at
him. He then proceeded to put his hand inches from my face and wave furiously at me for
an uncomfortably prolonged time. The student was quite taken aback and I was left shaking.
Barrett and I did not have a social relationship at that point and his interruption of my
conversation with a student as well as his physical invasion of my space made me feel very
unsafe and professionally threatened. I had difficulty teaching the class following our
interaction and began avoiding the 9th floor so I didn’t have to run into him again and
experience similar physical violence. If you would like to contact the student to confirm
Barrett’s behavior, I would be happy to share his name with you.
Second, I serve as a Graduate Student Mentor through the Composition Program. Part of
the work I do as a mentor is provide my mentees, Holly Wielechowski and Laura Kraftowitz,