Former SFCC professor alleges student misconduct, sexual harassment improperly handled

Apr. 27—Sydney Scherr describes herself as a "great teacher."

Her résumé outlines a four-decade career teaching college-level jewelry design at institutions ranging from Parsons School of Design in New York to Raffles College of Higher Education in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Most recently, she served as program head of Santa Fe Community College's Jewelry and Metal Arts program.

But her career as a jewelry instructor ended in abrupt retirement in May 2023, Scherr said, after a student she described as particularly disruptive and aggressive was repeatedly placed in her jewelry courses.

The male student, in his 60s, touched female students without their consent during class, Scherr alleged. She claims 10 women left the program as a result.

Scherr contends the college failed to take appropriate action after she reported the student's behavior to SFCC officials, the college's Title IX team and the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights. Scherr said it felt as if her complaints were "going into the wind."

"What happened to me is almost beside the point," she said in an interview. "It's what this school is allowing. It's this power structure that is so anti-woman."

The federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act — which limits public access to students' education records — prohibited college officials from commenting on specific faculty or student matters, Todd Lovato, the college's chief communications officer, wrote in an email to The New Mexican.

"SFCC takes all concerns and complaints seriously and follows existing college policies and procedures to investigate and address them," Lovato added.

Contacted by The New Mexican, the student said Scherr's allegations were unfounded.

"It's annoying that she's still talking about it," he said of Scherr. "Nothing was ever proven. ... It was all just much ado about some gossip."

The New Mexican is not publishing the student's name since SFCC officials did not confirm allegations against him and court records indicate no civil complaints have been filed naming him as a defendant.

Scherr claims the student arrived in her jewelry design courses in spring 2022, becoming an "aggressively loud, disruptive and undisciplined" presence in class. She said he interrupted lectures and work time, in defiance of jewelry studio rules intended to keep students safe while working with powerful equipment.

"I've never had a student so disruptive — dangerously so, because we are working in a metal studio where there's power equipment ready to rip your fingers off," Scherr said.

Near the end of the spring 2022 term, Scherr said she received reports from her pupils the student touched female classmates inappropriately — while the professor's back was turned. Women in Scherr's courses expressed concerns for their safety, the professor recalled, or they left the program.

In one circumstance, Scherr said she witnessed the student's behavior: During a demonstration, she saw him walk behind a classmate and start massaging her.

In response, Scherr reprimanded the student, acknowledging she was "not kind or reserved" in her comments and cursed at him.

"You touch another woman, you're gone," she recalled saying.

"I was so angry. Unwanted advances are a hard stop with me," Scherr said in an interview.

The New Mexican attempted to reach students in the class, some of whom declined to comment.

Another of Scherr's former students, who spoke on condition of anonymity, corroborated the student's disruptive behavior, though they could not attest to claims of sexual harassment.

Although Santa Fe Community College offers courses accessible to anyone, there are rules in place governing how students can behave on campus and in class.

"SFCC is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for students, faculty, staff, and the public," the college's student code of conduct states. "Students at SFCC are expected to behave in a respectful, civil, and thoughtful manner at all times."

The code of conduct prohibits a slew of behaviors, including disruption of teaching and other SFCC activities, plus violence, physical or verbal abuse and sexual misconduct. Campus policy states failure to adhere to the code of conduct can result in disciplinary action, including removal from class or campus and expulsion.

In addition to SFCC's student code of conduct, federal law governs sexual violence on college campuses, too. Title IX requires colleges and universities to take steps to prevent sexual harassment, which the U.S. Department of Education defines as "unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature" — including verbal, nonverbal and physical behavior.

A pamphlet titled "Title IX at Santa Fe Community College" and distributed across the college's campus in brochure holders indicates SFCC's Title IX team can help students connect with resources, understand their rights pertaining to protective orders and organize interim support like housing and academic accommodations.

Students are held to the code of conduct, Lovato said. Infractions are addressed by the Office of the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs and, when appropriate, the college's Title IX team.

Scherr said she repeatedly reported the student's behavior to college higher-ups.

In one email Scherr shared with The New Mexican, a college official noted the student's behavior involved "a classroom conduct element, a bullying/intimidation element, and may also fall into the realm of Title IX."

Santa Fe Community College declined to comment on the investigation or resolution of the Scherr's allegations, citing privacy concerns and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

A complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights also yielded no investigation, with the office's response stating Scherr's complaint was "untimely" because it was not filed within 180 calendar days of the date of alleged behavior.

Scherr's reports did not result in expulsion. The student confirmed he's still enrolled in SFCC's jewelry design courses.

Her experience, Scherr said, drove her into early retirement.

And it left her with a question: "Why are all these Title IX infractions meaningless?"