New Sexual Harassment Accusations Against Professor Jorge I. Domínguez Spark Heated Online Debate

A post by Roberto Veiga, director of the non-profit group Cuba Posible, has ignited debate on social networks about sexual harassment in Cuba.

In a post on the association's Facebook page, Veiga recounts accusations of sexual harassment against the well-known Cuban-American political scientist Jorge I. Domínguez. A professor of the Fundación México en Harvard-Antonio Madero (Mexico Foundation in Harvard-Antonio Madero) at Harvard University who was placed on academic leave by the institution because of his actions.

In February 2018, Domínguez was the subject of an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, a US-based trade publication, which alleged that he had systematically sexually harassed university colleagues and students since the late seventies. At the center of the claims is the case of female assistant professor Karl Terry, who has been denouncing Domínguez's lascivious behavior since 1983.

According to The Chronicle, after she had refused his physical advances on multiple occasions, Terry described walking with Domínguez through a wooded area of campus when he commented to her, “This would be a nice place for a rape.”

At that time, Domínguez was censured for his actions and placed on administrative leave for three years. Terry considered the measure to be a mere “slap on the wrist.” Fearing what Domínguez might do upon his return, she abandoned her position at Harvard.

Since then, and in the context of the #MeToo movement, 18 new accusations have emerged. For the moment, the university is investigating the accusations and The Chronicle of Higher Education is documenting them.