Editor’s note: This article contains discussion of sexual violence. Resources and helplines can be found at the bottom of the piece.

On Nov. 14, 2024, Associate Professor of Chemistry Jonathan Barnes was temporarily removed from teaching his section of organic chemistry amid allegations of inappropriate, non-consensual touching, made by multiple students. The Student Life editorial board stands with the students quoted and any others who may have experienced similar situations, and is disturbed by the familiarity of this event with those of the past at WashU. 

According to sources interviewed in a Student Life article, Barnes targeted students during office hours, where he would touch them on the arms, lower back, and thigh. Barnes has denied any allegations of inappropriate conduct in a statement given to Student Life by his attorney, Christopher Combs. He is still employed by the university, and his investigation is ongoing.

While Barnes didn’t specifically reference grade-related repercussions or action, he is a professor — he didn’t have to for students to feel silenced. Two of the four students mentioned that they hesitated to report him or seek support because of his power over their grades and success in the class. One student in particular planned on waiting until she had completed the course to report his behavior. That way, Barnes could no longer alter her grade. 

Grades carry weight; they can determine post-graduate opportunities, a subject that weighs on many students’ minds. As students, we are vulnerable. Many of us lack a stable source of income outside of family support and view our education as a means to attain social mobility or stability, especially when the future feels uncertain. 

The significance of grades, particularly at a university like WashU, creates a stark power dynamic between students and professors. Professors have power over students’ grades and career prospects which directly correlates to their future employment or academic opportunities. This dynamic can be dangerous. This power can be used to harm or cross boundaries with students and avoid accountability. 

As an organic chemistry professor, Barnes was in charge of a class that could make or break a student’s opportunity to attend medical school. While grades weigh on all students, one’s GPA is particularly important to those applying to medical school. A student alleged that after at least one instance of inappropriate touching, the professor apologized and told her that many students loved him and he had written many recommendation letters for medical school applications. He then offered to write one for the student if she needed one. In the article, the student said, “‘Cool, he’s trying to get me to shut up’ … That’s kind of what it felt like.”

This is not an isolated event, but a symptom of deeper academic and institutional structures. Barnes’s case is the most recent in a history of barriers for people to report sexual misconduct at WashU. Just last academic year, a parallel situation occurred with accusations against Professor Phillip Dybvig. WashU must acknowledge its role in fostering an environment where grades and power dynamics can become weapons. The professors and administrators who contribute to and take advantage of this culture must be held accountable.

As the details of this case continue to develop, we as an editorial team will watch closely to see how the University responds. So far, Barnes was quickly removed from teaching organic chemistry after allegations surfaced. However, he is still conducting his research with students.

We hope that the progression of Barnes’s case will not resemble past cases, where the administration has failed to condemn or take public actions to address allegations of sexual harassment or assault, like that of Professor Dybvig. Dyvbig’s case is possibly still ongoing. After over two years since the initial allegations of misconduct by graduate students, there have been no official findings of wrongdoing and the administration has not made a statement about the case.

We hope that the Barnes case triggers institutional reform, holding professors accountable so that they do not take advantage of students. Aside from punitive measures against professors accused of sexual misconduct, potential solutions include improving the Title IX process, implementing better faculty training, and creating sexual violence programming and education specific to the professor-student power dynamic.

In the meantime, however, the administration should provide accommodations for students so they are not stuck in a class with a professor who makes them feel unsafe. Accommodations for students who feel unsafe in the classroom could include the ability to withdraw from a class without getting a W on your transcript, watch lectures online or take exams outside of the classroom, and/or take the rest of a class in a different semester or over the summer.

Systemic pressures often lead to silence in the face of harmful situations, but we can collectively push back against them by creating a culture of solidarity, where students feel safe to voice their struggles and seek help. For this to become a reality, the culture has to be set at the top. The administration must condemn sexual misconduct by its professors and begin taking measurable steps toward eliminating a culture where grades are prioritized over safety. 

Staff editorials reflect the opinion of the majority of our editorial board members. The editorial board operates independently of our newsroom and includes members of the senior staff. 

Jordan Spector, Senior Forum Editor

Sylvie Richards, Managing Forum Editor

Dion Hines, Junior Forum Editor

Amelia Raden, Senior Forum Editor

Jasmine Stone, Senior Forum Editor

Sophia Hellman, Junior Scene Editor

Nina Giraldo, Editor-in-Chief

Avi Holzman, Editor-in-Chief

Elizabeth Grieve, Senior Scene Editor

Riley Herron, Managing Sports Editor

Bri Nitsberg, Managing Photo Editor

Alice Gottesman, Managing Scene Editor

Zara Shariff, Senior Scene Editor

Lore Wang, Senior Scene Editor

Quinn Moore, Newsletter Editor

Tim Mellman, Managing Newsletter Editor

The Sexual Assault and Rape Anonymous Helpline (SARAH) provides confidential and anonymous support and can be reached at 314-935-8080 24 /7 during the fall and spring academic semesters.

There are counselors at the Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) Center, located in Seigle Hall, Suite 435, available confidentially to any University student. The office can be reached at tel:314-935-3445 or by email at [email protected].

The National Sexual Assault Hotline can be reached at tel:1-800-656-4673 or via online chat at https://hotline.rainn.org/online 24/7.