Ludlow Sues Northwestern


Peter Ludlow, who had been accused of sexual misconduct with an undergraduate at Northwestern University (previously) is suing the university and some of its officials for defamation, gender discrimination, and invasion of privacy. The suit also mentions a relationship Ludlow had with a philosophy graduate student.

The University acted “with malice and with reckless indifference” toward Ludlow’s rights under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, according to the suit. Ludlow names University President Morton Schapiro and an NU graduate student as defendants in the suit, which was filed Wednesday.

In addition to his allegations against NU, Ludlow denies reports that he had non-consensual sex with a philosophy graduate student while they were in a relationship.

Ludlow is raising his concerns in the wake of a different Title IX lawsuit filed in February against the University by a rising Medill senior. The Medill student alleges that NU acted with “deliberate indifference and retaliation” after she reported that Ludlow sexually assaulted her in 2012. The student’s report spurred an internal investigation that found Ludlow in violation of NU’s sexual misconduct policy. Ludlow called this investigation “flawed and one-sided” and has denied the student’s allegations….

Ludlow’s suit reveals that the University also investigated Ludlow after a philosophy graduate student lodged a complaint in March that Ludlow had non-consensual sex with her. The pair had “a consensual romantic relationship” from about October 2011 to January 2012, according to Ludlow’s suit.

He is alleging that the graduate student, along with philosophy Prof. Jennifer Lackey and director of NU’s Sexual Harassment Prevention Office Joan Slavin, who are also named in the suit, defamed him in statements they made during a third-party investigation into the student’s allegations.

The rest of the story is here.

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Kristina
Kristina
9 years ago

Hate when news outlets use “non-consensual sex” instead of rape.

Derek Bowman
Derek Bowman
Reply to  Kristina
9 years ago

While I agree with your point about the language, I bet it’s a product of the laws and/or university policies being referenced, rather than an independent choice on the part of journalists. See for example the definition of sexual assault from Northwestern’s student handbook, which refers to “nonconsensual acts” but never uses the term “rape.” (I’m having trouble posting the link, but you can find it by searching for any of the relevant terms on Northwestern’s website).

Amy
Amy
9 years ago

They should at least be consistent about it and report on non-consensual property transfers, non-consensual home visitations, and non-consensual life terminations.