r/UWMadison • u/citesunlight_3237 • 11h ago
Other An investigation of UW-Madison professor Dietram Scheufele found he had sexual relationships with two students and made derogatory, sexist and disparaging comments about members of his department
"About a year before a renowned University of Wisconsin-Madison professor resigned and took a new job in Arizona, an investigation found he had sexual relationships with two students and engaged in unwelcome sexual conduct with one of them, and that he made derogatory, sexist and disparaging comments about members of his department.
UW-Madison’s investigation of Dietram Scheufele examined his conduct with students and faculty across nearly a decade, including at an academic conference in Detroit that he attended in 2022. Scheufele repeatedly denied to investigators that he engaged in any unprofessional, romantic, sexual or flirtatious interactions with students. He also disputed allegations that he spoke disparagingly about students and faculty.
The Cap Times obtained hundreds of pages of records detailing the university’s investigation from an attorney representing three students who filed complaints against Scheufele. The records contain more information than redacted investigation documents the university released to the Cap Times this week under state open records laws.
The Cap Times separately interviewed the students about their experiences, sometimes accompanied by their attorney. Each student said the university’s lengthy, opaque investigation left them questioning campus leaders’ commitment to preventing future misconduct."