National University of Singapore professor fired for sexual misconduct after sexting, harassment investigation

Professor Theodore G Hopf from the university’s political science department was accused of harassing a student and sending a sexually explicit text

The case is the third action in less than two months taken by the university against professors for inappropriate behaviour or sexual misconduct

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A sign of the National University of Singapore is seen at a campus entrance. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:53pm, 1 Dec 2020Updated: 3:53pm, 1 Dec 2020

A member of academic staff at the National University of Singapore was dismissed on Tuesday for sexual misconduct following investigations into an anonymous complaint in August.

The complaint alleged that Professor Theodore G Hopf from the university’s political science department in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences had sexually harassed a student, the NUS said in a statement.

The university said it had conducted interviews with the student and Hopf, following which on September 15 the professor was prohibited from contacting any NUS student. He was later suspended and told to stay off-campus while investigations were ongoing, the NUS said.

A committee of inquiry was appointed on October 7 and the student, who was accompanied by an officer from the NUS Victim Care Unit, was interviewed on October 21.

Professor Theodore G Hopf. Photo: National University of Singapore

As Hopf needed to seek treatment for a serious medical condition, the committee interviewed him later on November 13, the NUS said. The committee then submitted its report on November 18.