University reprimands IUSB professor

A former chancellor and current tenured professor at IU-South Bend has been warned to stop offensive classroom behavior, including ridiculing his students.\nDaniel Cohen, professor of physics, was sent a letter by current Chancellor Kenneth L. Perrin Jan. 3 telling him to discontinue questionable classroom behavior. Cohen's actions have been under investigation by Perrin since fall, when the chancellor received complaints. \nThe complaints came from 11 female education majors who took a physical science class from Cohen. They filed formal complaints, alleging he graded arbitrarily and showed extreme anger in class.\nIn Perrin's letter, he informed Cohen that sanctions could be imposed if any more complaints were filed, investigated and confirmed. \n"I find that the students' statements that you engaged in … objectionable behavior, including ridiculing and intimidating students and discouraging questions, to be credible," Perrin wrote in his letter. "It is evident, in spite of your statements to the contrary, that your behavior in the classroom is offensive to many students."\nA University spokeswoman said Perrin would not comment publicly because it is a personnel matter. \nCohen denied the allegations to The Associated Press and said he is drafting a written response to Perrin's letter. \n"I think the letter is quite ridiculous," Cohen told The Associated Press. "The conclusion is wrongheaded and misguided, in my opinion."\nCohen, formally chancellor of IU-South Bend, resigned from that position in 1995 amid sexual harassment allegations. He also later lost a civil lawsuit by a former South Bend employee who claimed he had sexually harassed her.\nWhen Cohen resigned as chancellor, he received a year's sabbatical at full pay, then became a tenured physics professor in 1996. Cohen's salary for 2000-2001 is $99,865.\nSusan Dillman, University spokeswoman, said IU President Myles Brand said the situation would be handled at South Bend because it is a regional campus issue. \nIU-Bloomington psychology professor James Sherman, the University Faculty Council co-secretary, said there are specific ways faculty misconduct is handled. \n"There are avenues one takes when complaints are brought against faculty," Sherman said. "There are committees designed to look into allegations against faculty, as there are against students."\nCohen told The Associated Press that, despite the allegations, he wants to remain in the classroom. \n"Despite all this, I still enjoy teaching," Cohen said.