Ivy Towers: Ivy Roundup

Brown University Visiting Professor of Chemistry Kayode Adesogan was dismissed last week on charges of sexual harassment and sexual assault, The Brown Daily Herald reported last week. A pre-med sophomore in Adesogan's chemistry class, who asked the Herald that her name be withheld, said that when she asked Adesogan about a test grade, he "put his arm around me...and he started to rub me on my tit and I just felt so scared." The student alleged that Adesogan said he could "suggest a way for me to get higher grades and asked me if I would suck him." The student responded to his request, she told the Herald, by running out of his office and contacting her dean. She said at a "Speak-out" held this week as part of Brown's "Women's Herstory Month" that when she told the dean about her experience with Adesogan, he said, "Let's look back at this situation and see what you could have done differently." Another student, who asked the Herald that her name not be used, said that upon visiting Adesogan in his office, he allegedly told her that she "could get an A if I would help him feel good." Standing in front of the door to his office so that she could not exit and grabbing her by the wrist, Adesogan supposedly forced her to masturbate him. The student said her parents are "consulting an attorney" about the matter. Adesogan would not comment on the allegations when contacted at his home Saturday afternoon by the Brown paper. --The Brown Daily Herald Harvard senior Mark McKay announced his candidacy for Iowa State Representative in the 61st District this month. McKay, a Democrat, began his campaign by sending fliers to 1,500 voters. He also made several trips to his district in Ames, Iowa to give campaign speeches. McKay's first challenge will be the June 7 primary, in which he faces opponent Cele Burnett. The winner of the contest will then oppose Republican John Parks, an Ames city councillor, in November. The district's seat is currently vacant. McKay's political experience includes working for local Iowa Democratic campaigns, serving as a delegate to the state Democratic Convention and serving on the Undergraduate Council at Harvard. "I worked in the state capitol a few years ago," McKay said. "I saw the politicians working there and said to myself, 'I can do as well as they can.'" McKay conceded that his age may be a negative factor, but his campaign staff said his youth could work to his advantage because Ames, home of Iowa State University, is a "college town." --The Harvard Crimson Princeton University's plans for the construction of a power plant that will allow it to produce almost all of its own electricity moved a step closer to to completion last week. The Princeton Regional Planning Board approved the university's proposal for the facility last Thursday, Princeton Facilities Vice President Eugene McPartland said this week. McPartland estimated yesterday that the entire project, including design costs, would exceed $30 million. He said he expects Princeton to break ground for the project in early 1995. The construction of the electric power plant should be completed sometime in the summer or fall of 1996, McPartland said. Princeton began investigating the project two years ago, he added. The new facility will increase Princeton's steam producing capacity by 50 percent, and enable the university to produce up to 90 percent of its own electricity, "cheaper than we can buy it," McPartland said. Presently, Princeton purchases all its electricity from Public Service Electric and Gas, a local utility. --The Daily Princetonian Cornell University responded to allegations of a rape involving members of the Chi Psi fraternity, officials said. Cornell Assistant Dean of Students for Greek Life Randy Stevens said he heard about the incident last month when students approached him about a female student who may have been the victim of sexual abuse at the fraternity on Feb. 20. Stevens said that because the alleged victim did not file charges with the university, Cornell "was in no position to take any action." A preliminary investigation, though, is underway to respond to student concerns. -- The Cornell Daily Sun