Thomas Gouttierre faces undisclosed action following slapping accusation



After an investigation, the university administration stated that, since there were grounds for disciplinary action, Gouttierre would face undisclosed actions. Being removed from office was not one of them. Thomas Gouttierre, dean of International Studies and Programs and director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Afghanistan in the 1960's.

Thomas Gouttierre faces undisclosed action following slapping accusation

Dean faces undisclosed action following slapping accusation

Taylor Muller
August 22, 2006

A prominent university dean came under fire when he was accused of slapping a student.

Vanessa Robertson said she was slapped by Thomas Gouttierre, dean of international studies and programs, at an awards luncheon on April 28 for Sigma Iota Rho, the international studies honor society. Robertson was president of the honor society at the time.

“Tom was 20 or 30 minutes late and the vice president and the upcoming vice [president], had to leave to take finals, so we handed out the certificates before Tom got there,” Robertson said. “He finally arrived and I told him we had already passed out the certificates. He responded by saying, ‘No, you haven’t,’ and I answered, ‘Yes, I have.’ He then slapped me; it was his left hand on my right cheek.”

Robertson immediately filed a report with campus security, but their slow response was what led her to take her story to the Omaha World-Herald, she said.

“I went to the Omaha World-Herald because [the university] wasn’t taking it seriously,” Robertson said. “They asked me what I wanted to happen and I said I want him fired.”

Gouttierre is the dean of the international studies and programs at UNO and UNMC. He has garnered international prestige for the university through his involvement as director of the UNO Center for Afghanistan Studies.

After an investigation, the university administration stated that, since there were grounds for disciplinary action, Gouttierre would face undisclosed actions. Being removed from office was not one of them.

“This personnel matter was reviewed by the Board of Regents in executive session today, and members reaffirmed their expectations for the highest standard of behavior of faculty members toward students,” said NU President James B. Milliken on June 15.

Robertson was disappointed with the university’s decision, saying that the combination of the university’s slow response time and lack of any real consequences sets a poor precedent for the university.

“The university is not just accountable to me, but to the people of Nebraska and I urge [voters] to keep this in mind when they go to vote for Board of Regents next time.”

Robertson also filed a report with the Omaha Police Department, but declined further comment on the incident or investigation when contacted last week.

When this story was posted in August 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:




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