Ohio State University trustees have fired a social work professor for sexual misconduct.
![Rene Olate is a former Ohio State University College of Social Work associate professor.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7ebf0d8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1600x2402+0+0/resize/880x1321!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F22%2F41%2F64cd692a466388c07d7e7c3ca987%2Frene-olate2.jpg)
Two reports filed last year cited unwanted gender-based verbal and physical conduct by René Olate that created a hostile educational environment.
An investigation by the university’s Office of Institutional Equity found Olate “commented on students' physical appearances, described graphic details of sexual assault in a class lecture, commented on a student's sexuality, touched the shoulders and backs of female students, hugged and kissed one female student and requested to have an intimate relationship with a student, who declined his advances."
Olate came to Ohio State in 2011 and focused much of his work on youth violence, masculinities and Latino gangs
In a letter to trustees, Olate refuted the claims that led to his firing.
"Throughout this investigation, I have told my supervisors and others at OSU that I was willing to leave OSU. I did not wish to stay where my reputation was so severely injured by false allegations," he wrote.