I am writing to share my disappointment with KU’s “investigation” of Professor Dennis Dailey’s teaching methods in classes relating to sexuality. I was Sen. Susan Wagle’s intern during the legislative session and was also enrolled in Human Sexuality in Everyday Life.

Within hours of Sen. Wagle’s initial proviso being introduced, KU released a statement in support of Professor Dailey. This lack of diligence in obtaining the truth continued to permeate its efforts, as Kansas University would again and again support Professor Dailey without looking at the facts.

During the investigation, three KU students supporting Dailey met with a member of KU’s administrative staff for 45 minutes. I left three messages with the chancellor’s office. None of my calls were returned until, during my fourth call, I mentioned my lawyer. I then received a call from the chancellor’s secretary.

Later, during a meeting with Provost David Shulenburger, he attempted to discredit my views by inquiring how I felt about another public figure and the language he uses, which is sometimes similar to language used by Professor Dailey in discussing sexuality. I explained that I felt the language of both to be highly offensive.

The provost was given the opportunity to listen to my recordings of Professor Dailey’s class. He never accepted this offer. One would think this to be imperative to a fair and thorough investigation as he had never attended the class.

Sen. Wagle was initially told by the chancellor that a committee would be assigned to conduct the investigation. This policy was evidently changed as this never happened.

The signed affidavits, which validate years of similar behavior by Professor Dailey, were never promised to the provost. He was told that they might be made available if he would guarantee that the author’s identities would be protected. He did not confirm this via email response. The university apparently had no intention of investigating the allegations made with these affidavits, as the provost requested via email the affidavits be delivered the same day the investigation concluded, without any prior indication of when the investigation would be terminated. This would not allow time to examine these allegations.

The affidavits are written by current and former students, some who had complained about Professor Dailey to the ombudsman or other administration but were not allowed to file an “official” complaint. One former student stated that she was told by a previous KU administrator that her objections would be kept quiet so that her grades would not suffer. It is interesting to note that my husband lost his job with the university due to “budget cuts” exactly one week after the original proviso was introduced.

The School of Social Welfare also released a statement in Professor Dailey’s defense before the investigation was complete, and the dean of the school signed this. Typically, the dean is supposed to be someone students may approach with complaints, but this serves as an indication that complaints may be dismissed. It is intimidating to rise up against such a powerful and biased institution when its officials have the power of grades and letters of recommendation over any student. I doubt anyone would want to experience the character assassination Sen. Wagle and I have suffered.

Numerous other examples of my university’s lack of integrity with regard to this issue are obvious and will continue to become apparent as this unfolds. I am thankful to Sen. Wagle, the Legislature, many citizens, numerous groups and organizations and my attorney for not being of the same mind-set.

— Jessica Zahn is a Kansas University senior from Wamego.