A professor at Liberty University is alleged to have assaulted and attempted to kidnap a student on campus.
William Atwell was arrested on Nov. 20 and charged with sexual battery and abduction by force or intimidation.
“Liberty University takes nothing more seriously than claims that a faculty member has had inappropriate sexual contact with one of our students, something for which there is zero tolerance,” a Liberty University spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.
JAN. 6 SUBPOENAS PHONE RECORDS OF CITIZENS BUT NOT CONGRESS MEMBERS
William Atwell has been charged with sexual battery and abduction by force or intimidation. A #LibertyUniversity spokesperson said, “Liberty University takes nothing more seriously than claims that a faculty member has had inappropriate sexual contact with one of our students…” pic.twitter.com/0ahkArlxnA
— Cynthia Beasley (@CynthiaABC13) December 1, 2021
The spokesperson said that the university turned the matter over to the “appropriate legal authorities” and suspended the professor pending the case’s outcome.
Atwell was arrested by Liberty University Police and charged with sexual battery and abduction by force or intimidation related to an incident on Sept. 15, WSET News reported.
Atwell served as an associate professor of American Sign Language, according to Liberty’s website.
Atwell was released after posting bail on Monday and will appear in court on Jan. 25, 2022.
Liberty is currently facing several allegations of mishandling sexual harassment accusations from students. ProPublica talked to 50 former students and faculty and found that accusers were asked to sign paperwork when they reported rape incidents saying they recognized they did so at the risk of penalty for breaking the school ethics code.
Twelve Jane Does came forward in July, accusing Liberty of “creating a campus environment that increases the likelihood of sexual assault and rape,” WXFR reported. The number of complaints rose to 22 in October.
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Scott Lamb, Liberty’s former senior vice president for communications, filed a lawsuit in October claiming he was fired for expressing concerns about sexual assault on campus.
Liberty’s former president, Jerry Falwell Jr., resurrected a lawsuit against his former employer in November, claiming the school defamed him and withheld his property.
Lynchburg’s Police Department did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for additional information.
