Don in Swansea sex harassment case resigns

Swansea University's head of philosophy, Laurence Goldstein, has resigned in the face of charges of sexual harassment and the intimidation of colleagues.

The university has confirmed this week that it has accepted Professor Goldstein's resignation and that as a result "the tribunal due to start will not now take place". Professor Goldstein was due to deny the charges.

Professor Goldstein stood down earlier this year after an outcry over sexually explicit jokes told at a party - one allegedly involved dropping his trousers in front of students and staff. But The THES learnt that the allegations extended beyond jokes.

The charges included seven alleged incidents of sexual harassment or inappropriate sexual behaviour, as well as allegations of threatening a member of staff with violence and attempting to intimidate staff during internal investigations.

The university said: "In January the university received a set of formal allegations." After a preliminary investigation, the university's vice-chancellor asked the council to convene a tribunal to hear the charges.

The university said: "Professor Goldstein has decidedI to resign, and the university has accepted his resignation and wishes him every success in his future career."

Professor Goldstein told The THES that his resignation was unrelated to the imminent tribunal. He said he resigned because of an "atmosphere of hostility" in the philosophy department. He stressed that the allegation of sexual harassment did not include charges relating to physical molestation.