University of Rochester Student on Hunger Strike Until Professor Accused of Sexual Harassment is Fired
The University of Rochester is facing growing public pressure after multiple complaints were filed against professor Florian Jaeger. The allegations involve sexual harassment, workplace misconduct, and academic power imbalance within the campus environment. As the university reviewed the complaints, Professor Jaeger took the semester off from teaching duties while administrative procedures progress.
This controversy escalated when senior student Lindsay Wrobel announced she would begin a University of Rochester sexual harassment hunger strike until the school takes decisive action. Speaking to the student newspaper Campus Times, she emphasized that the safety, education, and future opportunities of others on campus outweigh her personal academic progress.
According to public statements, eight individuals filed formal complaints, including two current faculty members. The case raises important institutional questions surrounding:
- Student and employee reporting pathways
- Anti-retaliation protections
- Campus employment law responsibilities
- Professor-student power imbalance
- Workplace safety obligations
Ms. Wrobel told Campus Times:
“My individual education matters less than the educations and livelihoods of everyone on campus.”
This protest highlights a recurring issue in academic institutions—policies alone do not create safety if enforcement lacks transparency, accountability, and urgency.
