UMass Amherst reviewing allegations of ‘inappropriate behavior’ against Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse

UMass Amherst is launching an investigation into allegations of “inappropriate behavior” against congressional candidate and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse after three groups of college Democrats sent the former adjunct instructor a letter this week disinviting him from their future events.

College Democrats of Massachusetts, UMass Amherst Democrats and Amherst College Democrats issued the joint letter to Morse, 31, alerting him that he “is no longer welcome” at their gatherings.

“Numerous incidents over the course of several years have shown that it is no longer appropriate to encourage interaction between College Democrats and Alex Morse,” according to a copy of the email obtained by the Herald and first reported on by The Massachusetts Daily Collegian.

The groups allege in their letter that Morse “made young college students uncomfortable” by contacting them through social media and through other interactions. “Even if these scenarios are mutually consensual,” the group wrote, they claim his “advances” are “unacceptable.”

“The power dynamics represented in these situations are dangerous and inappropriate,” the letter reads. “Alex Morse should know that as an elected official, a high-profile candidate, and a lecturer at a large public university, he holds a position of power over many young people.”

Morse’s campaign declined to issue a statement as of press time Saturday, after multiple requests from the Herald. In a statement to the Collegian and Politico on Friday, Morse said “every relationship I’ve had has been consensual. However, I also recognize that I have to be cognizant of my position of power” and offered an apology to “anyone I have made feel uncomfortable.”

UMass Amherst said in a statement Saturday it was “previously unaware of the concerns brought forward by members of the College Democrats” and has since reached out to students to provide support.

“The allegations that Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse engaged in inappropriate behavior with UMass Amherst students are serious and deeply concerning,” the statement said. “The university is launching an immediate review of the matter to determine whether the alleged actions during his time as a university lecturer were in violation of university policy or federal Title IX law.”

Morse is not currently an employee of the university, and the school said it has no plans to rehire him. He taught a course in urban government and politics over eight semesters, ending in the fall of 2019, the school said. His profile was still on the school’s website Saturday afternoon.

Faculty at UMass Amherst are prohibited from having sexual relationships with students or post-doctorates they supervise in any capacity, according to the university.

“The university’s policy on consensual relationships between faculty and students notes that dating or sexual relationships between faculty and students or post-docs are inherently problematic because of the unequal power dynamic between the parties to the relationship,” the university said.

The allegations come as Morse, Holyoke’s first openly gay mayor who’s now in his fourth term in office, vies to unseat House Ways and Means Committee Chairman U.S. Rep. Richard Neal in the state’s First Congressional District. Voting in the Sept. 1 Democratic Primary is already underway.

Progressive groups have been lining up behind Morse in recent weeks, with the mayor receiving endorsements just this week from the Working Families Party and MoveOn. He’s also backed by Justice Democrats, the same group that helped propel U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., to office. The Herald reached out to these groups and others endorsing Morse, but did not receive replies Saturday.

Holyoke City Councilors Linda Vacon and Terence Murphy, in separate emails to the Herald Saturday, both expressed concern over whether Morse “abused his power.” Vacon called for a broader investigation that would include employees under Morse’s control as mayor and school committee chairman. Multiple councilors said they were awaiting a statement from Morse and the university’s review.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3a7bxY9