UR settles federal sexual misconduct lawsuit for $9.4 million (Democrat and Chronicle)

“ROCHESTER, NY — The University of Rochester has reached a $9.4 million settlement in federal court with the current and former faculty and students who accused the institution of discrimination and retaliation relating to allegations of sexual misconduct, the two parties announced Friday.

A joint statement commends the plaintiffs, including Celeste Kidd, Jessica Cantlon and Richard Aslin, for “bringing forward their concerns about sexual harassment” and states that the “university’s leaders are committed to continuing to improve the institution’s ability to prevent harassment.”

#MeToo icons

The case transformed Kidd and Cantlon in particular from unknown junior faculty members to icons of the national #MeToo movement. They were part of a group named Persons of the Year for 2017 by Time magazine and have become vocal advocates against gender discrimination in academia.

“A lot of women who have taken steps similar to ours have been blacklisted or shunned or had their careers ended,” Cantlon said. “Knowing we complained at a time when people were receptive and willing to act on those concerns is definitely a silver lining.”