NU Prof in Sexual Harassment Case Not Teaching Rest of Quarter

The Northwestern University professor accused of sexually harassing a student will not teach the final two classes of the winter quarter, which ends Tuesday, according to university spokesman Alan Cubbage.

Students had planned to protest Peter Ludlow's philosophy class Tuesday by sitting in on it and then walking out half an hour into the class, but he canceled the class that morning.

Ludlow is the professor at the heart of a sexual harassment lawsuit against the university. A student, who is now a junior, claims Ludlow got her drunk, kissed her and slept next to her in his bed two years ago when she was 19. The school acknowledged in court papers that Ludlow engaged in “inappropriate sexual advances.” Ludlow was disciplined, but still remains on staff.

The student has also filed suit against Ludlow under the federal gender violence act. She says the incident led her to try to commit suicide and have anxiety attacks so severe she sometimes couldn’t leave her home.

Cubbage said Ludlow will not teach his last two classes of the quarter on Thursday and Tuesday. “No decision at this time regarding his teaching next quarter,” he wrote to Patch.

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