Yeshiva University Named In Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

Prof's 'Oral' Exam
Yeshiva Sex Flap
By Leonard Greene
New York Post
May 15, 2006

Learn more about the case at YeshivaVictims.org


May 15, 2006 -- An anatomy professor at a prominent medical school solicited oral sex in exchange for good grades, according to the latest in a string of lawsuits against Yeshiva University in The Bronx.

Marlen Abramova, a Queens woman with a successful academic track record, said she was expelled from the university's Albert Einstein College of Medicine after anatomy professor Todd Olson accused her of "professional misconduct" for allegedly cheating and lying to instructors about exams.

But Abramova - a summa cum laude graduate of Queens College - said the cheating charge is a nasty payback for her own harassment allegations.

"He solicited me for sex in exchange for good grades in his class," said Abramova, who filed the suit, seeking unspecified damages, earlier this month in Manhattan federal court.

Abramova said the abuse began in January 2003 when she sought help to improve her study habits. She said she inquired about textbooks or supplemental reading materials, but said Olson had other ideas.

"There is an easy way and a hard way of doing well in my class," Olson told her, according to the lawsuit. Then, according to court papers, he solicited oral sex.

Daniel Riesel, an attorney for the university, said the harassment charge is false.

Abramova's sexual-harassment charge is not the only one against the university. Four other women said they were harassed during the same time period by a supervisor who was asking for sexual favors in exchange for better working conditions.

Another student sued the university in 1998 saying she was sexually harassed by Olson.

Riesel said students are expelled only after hearings involving faculty and peers. There is also a grievance procedure.

"I don't think they represent a pattern," Riesel said of the lawsuits. "I think they represent students discharged for very good reasons. What you're really seeing here is a few disgruntled individuals who couldn't meet the requirements."

Another student, Jeevan Padiyar, filed suit against the university recently, claiming he was kicked out for being gay. In court two months ago, he produced a memo that appeared to back his claim.

Learn more about the case at YeshivaVictims.org

leonard.greene@nypost.com