Architecture instructor
Coleman Griffith was placed
on paid administrative leave on
Jan. 20, pending an investigation
involving sexual harassment
allegations, according to school
officials.
Both students and teachers
complained about Griffith in
early December, just before winter break, Senior Vice President
Robert Bell said.
"This alleged violation falls
under Tide 9 of the federal
registry," Bell said. '"Which are
potential sexual harassment
charges. The District is obligated
to conduct a thorough and fair
investigation."
In a brief statement to the
Courier, Faculty Association
President Julie Kiotas said that
Griffith "denies the allegations"
against him and that no investigation had occurred.
"The faculty is extremely
disappointed that Bell would violate confidentiality in personnel
matters," Kiotas said.
Bell said that Griffith had to
be placed on administrative leave
so that the investigation could
be as fair as possible. He also
said that the District was using
an outside investigation firm.
"My hope and my goal is that
the investigation will be done as
quickly and as expeditiously as
possible," Bell said. "So when we
bring it to closure, we'll then see
the results of the investigation
and then reengage with Griffith
to see what the next steps are."
PCC General Counsel Gail
Cooper said that she could not
comment on the investigation,
GRIFFITH page 2
Tiffany Yip/Courier
Coleman Griffith, an architecture professor has been
placed on leave.
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Continued from page 1
citing confidentiality. Griffith did
not respond to Courier emails
requesting comment.
Griffith is the third instructor in the past two years to be
accused of sexual misconduct.
Griffith is currently the direc
tor of the architecture program
and design studio coordinator
and has been teaching at PCC
for over 25 years.
Former Courier adviser Warren Swil, who was also placed on
administrative leave in April of
2013, was reinstated after admitting to showing nude pictures of
himself to student.
