For now, there will not be a new investigation to look into the transgressive behaviour by a psychology professor towards a master’s student, which took place between 2017 and 2020. This can be read on the website of Radboud University.

The board of the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Executive Board of Radboud University found no grounds to reopen an investigation on the psychology professor, who has exhibited transgressive behaviour towards a master’s student. That is what the radio programme Argos revealed last Saturday.

“Following the formal warning, we have not found or received any signals that the behaviour in question reoccurred, also not in the wake of the Argos broadcast”, according to the statement on the website of Radboud University. But if any new reports of this behaviour surface, this can be a reason for the university to start new or further investigations.

Social safety is high on the agenda of the university, according to the statement. To better tackle this theme, the university directors want to enter into a dialogue with the reporter and other persons involved.

Burnout

The Argos report revealed that a prominent psychology professor at Radboud University exhibited transgressive behaviour towards a master’s student. The professor, who was her master’s thesis supervisor, bombarded her with text messages about her appearance between 2017 and 2020; In 2020, he confessed to being in love with her.

The student first reported this to the programme coordinator, who approached the professor regarding his behaviour. However, this did not stop the professor from continuing to send inappropriate messages. Only much later, when the former student was at home with a burn-out and reported this to a confidential advisor, the university started taking action.

Unprofessional

In an official letter, which was presented to Rector Magnificus Han van Krieken and signed by the former dean, the professor was told that his behaviour had been unprofessional and inappropriate. This letter was added to his personnel file and is considered a ‘yellow card’.

It has now become clear that the professor started making fewer hours at the university at his own request, before the reports came in. He also no longer supervises any students.

Translated by Sophie Verhoeven