Professor Curry's recent article, "David Mamet's 'Oleanna' as Commentary on Sexual Harassment in the Academy," was a clearly written and sound analysis that recognized the twin needs of "protection from sexual harassment and protection of academic freedom." The one point I would add, however, is the need to provide a penalty for allegations that are clearly shown to be capricious. One possibility is that, in those rare cases, the finding that the charge was capricious be placed on the accuser's academic transcript (for students) or into the accuser's academic file (for faculty). The main source of damage from the (academic) crime of a capricious accusation is the harm done to the academic functioning of institutions of higher education. So let's have the punishment fit the crime.

All the best,