By Gavn Mackintosh-
The head of a Cambridge University college has resigned over allegations that he mishandled complaints of sexual misconduct raised by students. An independent enquiry into the allegations over the handling of the complaints recommended disciplinary action against Jeremy Morris, the master of Trinity Hall.
Dr Reverend Jeremy Morris(pictured) resigned from Trinity Hall in November 2019 after more than 1,300 staff and students protested and it came to light that he had published an erotic novel about students the year nearly a dozen complaints of harassment had been made against him.
Hutchinson, who had been accused of nearly a dozen incidents of inappropriate behaviour between 2014 and 2015, regained some college privileges when he automatically became an emeritus professor after his retirement.
The college provoked widespread ire among staff and students in 2019 when it defended its decision to restore Hutchinson’s access to the college for certain college events and to exercise his dining rights on grounds that the original decision to remove him in 2017 had “not been agreed with Dr Hutchinson and was incorrect”.
The college issued a statement on their website on Tuesday, announcing that it accepted Dr Morris’s resignation, noting that he disputed the recommendation of the enquiry.
“The Master disputes this recommendation, noting, in particular, the enquiry’s recognition that a number of contributors had praised his personal support for those who have raised issues of sexual abuse in specific situations,” the statement said.
“However, he considers that it is in the best interests of the college for him to offer his resignation, given the difficulties of the last 18 months, to enable the search for a new Master to begin,” it added.Dr Morris had stepped away from his duties in 2020 during an ongoing internal review. He was accused of mishandling multiple complaints of sexual assault against a male student.
An investigation by the news website Tortoise revealed that three women students told academic staff in February 2018 they had been raped and sexually assaulted by a male student, which the accused denied. Two of the survivors made formal complaints, which were heard by a panel of dons appointed by acting senior tutor Dr William O’Reilly.
Dr Morris also faced backlash in 2019 after Dr Peter Hutchinson, who was accused of sexually harassing 10 students, was readmitted to the college less than two years after being “permanently excluded” and banned from contacting students. Dr Hutchinson,n resigned in November after over 1,300 students and staff staged protests against him.
The college commissioned an independent inquiry led by Gemma White QC into the handling of allegations. Her report, based on over 60 interviews, recommended the college consider initiating disciplinary action against Dr Morris.
In 2020, over 500 students and staff had asked the college to “critically review” their handling of sexual misconduct complaints. Ms White has also led an enquiry into the alleged bullying and harassment of Westminster lawmakers’ Parliamentary staff and others engaged in Parliamentary work on their behalf.
His resignation is an example of situations in which h organisations fail to handle complaints made about its staff properly , simply to cover them up a c protect their joint interests.