Pa. university, graduate settle harassment suit

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — A state university in western Pennsylvania will pay $495,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a former student who says a professor sexually harassed him and retaliated after he refused to date the professor.

Edinboro University and 2009 graduate Cameron Aulner reached the settlement Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Erie.

Aulner filed the suit last year, claiming professor William Chandler made frequent references to the movie “Brokeback Mountain” to suggest they engage in a sexual relationship, among other allegations.

The agreement bars Aulner and the school from discussing the settlement. Chandler was also named in the October 2009 suit, but he died in December.

Aulner previously said he decided to sue after administrators did not act on his complaints.