A Barnard School music scholar was sexually harassed by her percussion teacher — all as a result of the college knowingly allowed him to proceed educating after a number of different college students made related complaints, a brand new lawsuit claims.
Drum instructor Carlos Valdez, allegedly groomed the scholar earlier than she began lessons on the college, sending her messages on social media and making a mentor-mentee relationship, in keeping with the swimsuit.
When she began on the college in 2016, he pushed her to take personal classes with him, providing her a personal room within the basement of the college close to his workplace.
Firstly of every personal lesson, Valdez gave her a protracted hug and finally started asking her about her private life — together with her boyfriends, the swimsuit states.
He then started massaging her again after saying her posture wanted enchancment — and urging her to play the drums extra loudly so her breasts would bounce whereas she performed, in keeping with the swimsuit.
On one event, he grabbed her and forcibly kissed her, the scholar says within the swimsuit.
The coed then switched her tutorial focus in an effort to get away from Valdez and finally grew depressed after the instructor allegedly retaliated in opposition to her by badmouthing her and downplaying her musical skill to different college students.
She finally filed a Title IX criticism in opposition to Valdez on the college, in keeping with the swimsuit. The college fired Valdez after investigating the scholar’s declare, however she found he’d been the topic of two earlier complaints previous to her experiences.
The coed claims the college president, Leon Botstein, and Dean Michèle Dominy, shoulder the accountability of Valdez’s actions as a result of they knew he had a historical past of sexual misconduct, however allowed him to proceed educating.
The coed is looking for unspecified damages.
Bard School and Valdez didn’t instantly return request for remark.