Story Created:
Dec 23, 2008 at 4:44 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Dec 23, 2008 at 11:07 PM EDT
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA - A Florida Gulf Coast University instructor is fired, accused of sexually harassing a female graduate student.
The University fired adjunct professor Carl Wood after a month long investigation.
The 28-year-old student brought the situation to the attention of the university after a day-long trip to Naples with adjunct professor Wood.
She told investigators Wood had offered to get her in contact with an attorney who would help her with a legal issue.
According to the FGCU internal report, Wood also offered to drive her to the appointment and asked her to go with him to a church group meeting.
When he drove her back home at the end of the day, the woman told investigators that "she reached over the seat to give Dr. Wood a thank you hug."
The report shows she then "felt him kissing her neck."
Investigators say the woman told them he pulled her close and began to kiss her using his tongue.
After she confronted him about it the report says he then kissed her again.
During the investigation Wood wrote an email to FGCU Vice President Hudson Rogers.
Wood called the incident "paternal affection to this admirable young lady."
Wood also wrote: "Obviously views of appropriate behavior between men and women have changed since I began to teach in 1972 and I would like to be absolutely sure that I never again send out signals or act in a manner that might be misinterpreted."
Wood was a professor at the University of Texas for 20 years before coming to FGCU.
