Western’s counseling center, seen Oct. 10, 2018. The Assistant Director, Eric Denson, was fired this summer after an investigation found him responsible for sexual harassment. Ella Banken//AS Review
By Sydnee Smith
On Aug. 21, Eric Denson, the counseling center assistant director, was fired after an investigation supported a complaint of sexual harassment, according to records reviewed by the AS Review.
The investigation began on April 5, 2018 after an intern at the counseling center made a complaint about Denson on March 28. Denson was employed at Western for 21 years.
The investigator conducted interviews with the complainant and four other witnesses, and found six comments of a sexual nature violated university policy.
The case was investigated by Sonja Fritts, a lawyer with the Ogletree Deakins law firm in Seattle. The AS Review received the documents from a former writer who filed a public records request.
Five of the six comments were made during a meeting about a patient in October 2017, the sixth comment was at a supervision meeting with the complainant in January 2018.
In the October meeting, about a patient with a pornography addiction, Denson asked the complaint if she felt her patient could stop, when she replied yes, he responded with “but it feels so good.” He also made a pun about stripping in relation to the case, among other comments.
Denson went on to address the possible motivation of the client’s addiction, stating he himself is unable to meet all his partner’s needs. Then continued, stating it sounded like the client “just wants to jack off.”
Denson claimed he was in character and trying to engage the complainant in a conversation of different perspectives and approaches on the matter.
In the same meeting the complainant mentioned the patient calling her lovely, to which Denson asked the complainant if she wanted to know if he thought she was lovely.
Denson admitted to saying the comment, but stated he meant it in a humorous way.
According to the final report, the complainant confronted Denson about his comments in October, hoping they would stop after. Denson agreed, stating he hoped they could move forward and felt bad for the impact he had on her. Afterward the complainant noted Denson did not seem as engaged in their supervision meetings anymore.
Finally, in a January meeting, Denson asked the complainant what was on her “dirty little mind.”
Denson again admitted to the statement, but again claimed he was trying to be humorous and light hearted.
The investigation found it more likely than not that Denson made the comments and they were unprofessional and not clinically-accepted language.
The reports mentioned the Complainant tried to avoid Denson which affected her professional and personal life.
Due to the cumulative effect of Denson’s comments the investigation found the work environment to be made sexually hostile. The investigator also noted there was a power difference between Denson and the complainant.
Due to these stresses the complainant changed her behaviors to avoid Denson, lost drastic weight and considered leaving her internship, she said.
Denson’s actions were first brought to Shari Robinson, then director of Western’s counseling center, who then reported the incidents to the Equal Opportunity Office.
Also detailed in the report were three other allegations of verbal comments of a sexual nature, a written comment of a sexual nature, demeaning sexual behaviors and crossing personal and professional lines.
It was concluded Denson more likely than not said the remaining allegations. However, they were found to not violate university policy, as some were deemed not be inappropriate or unprofessional, and others were not found to be sexual in nature.
The investigation relied on on University policies 1600.02 and 1600.04, which protect students against harassment, bullying and discrimination based on sex.
After reviewing the investigation, Melynda Huskey, vice president for enrollment and student services, terminated Denson.
“The Respondent created a hostile environment, denying the Complainant the benefits of her educational experiences, which is particularly egregious given his role as Training Director for the Counseling Center,” Huskey said, in a letter to Sue Guenter-Schlesinger, who’s in charge of the Equal Opportunity Office.
Huskey also reported Denson to the Washington Department of Health
In a letter to the complainant, Huskey stated Western will try to emphasize the importance of promoting and sustaining an environment free from discrimination and harassment when they hire a new director for the counseling center and training director.
The AS Review reached out to Huskey who said she doesn’t speak on personnel matters.
Paul Cocke, director of communication and marketing, also declined to comment besides confirming that Denson no longer works at Western.
Scott Bramhall, a health care investigator who the case was referred to, also declined to comment on the matter.
Updated 10/16 at 2:18 p.m. to correct a typo. Huskey said she doesn’t comment on personnel matters not personal matters.