News Update

State lawmaker requests sexual harassment audit of CSU system

Assemblyman Rudy Salas, D-Bakersfield, who chairs the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, is calling for an audit of all sexual harassment policies and subsequent settlements paid to alleged harassers throughout the CSU system.

“The recent sexual harassment allegations involving several CSU campuses, as well as the Chancellor’s Office, is unacceptable and warrants the scrutiny and impartiality that only the State Auditor can provide,” Salas wrote in a statement.

The CSU Board of Trustees supports Salas’ request, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.

The CSU system has been embroiled in criticism over how it handles sexual harassment complaints, after it came to light that former Chancellor Joseph I. Castro had allowed Cal State Fresno administrator Frank Lamas to retire, instead of thoroughly investigating complaints against him.

In addition, the CSU system just settled a claim with a Sonoma State provost who reported sexual harassment allegations and retaliation involving the campus president and her husband. And last year, San Jose State University settled with 15 former student-athletes who reported sexual harassment by their trainer.