Ont. university says professor fired over 'unethical' sexual relationships with students
![McMaster University McMaster University is seen in this photo from Google Street View.](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2015/4/29/mcmaster-university-1-2349769-1716900291617.jpg)
An associate professor at McMaster University has been fired after its board of governors found that he engaged in “unethical, inappropriate and in some instances exploitative” sexual relationships with students.
In a news release issued Monday, the university shared the outcome of what it described as a “difficult situation” involving Scott Watter, who taught psychology, neuroscience and behaviour at the post-secondary institution west of Toronto.
“This decision is on the grounds that his conduct and pattern of behaviour involving students was an abuse of his position as a faculty member, amounting to a serious and fundamental breach of trust,” McMaster president David Farrar and board chair Jane Allen said in a joint statement.
In 2020, Hamilton police charged Watter with sexual assault and sexual assault causing bodily harm in connection with an incident involving a student in 2017.
Watter was acquitted of the charges, documents released by the school following the decision show, but an internal investigation into the allegations against him continued.
According to a senate committee tasked with hearing the case against Watter, the professor engaged in a sexual relationship with a graduate student who he knew was “engaging in self-harm,” used a dating website to meet two graduate students whom he had sexual relationships with and used more than $4,000 in research grants to hire one of those students.
The committee found that Watter’s actions amounted to a violation of the university’s code of conduct and conflict of interest policy, and that his removal from faculty was the “only reasonable outcome.”
“Removal of a faculty member is not a decision that is made lightly but it is critically important that the university is able to act to safeguard the safety of our students and all other members of the campus community, and to uphold the high standards of our institution,” McMaster said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6973608.1721691615!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
2nd woman found dead in English Bay: Vancouver police
For the second time in as many days, a woman's body was found near Vancouver's shoreline Monday.
2 Albertans accused of threatening to kill Trudeau, Freeland, Singh
Men from Edmonton and Calgary are accused of threatening to kill some of Canada's top government leaders.
Athletes show off stylish and expensive team clothing for the 2024 Olympic Games
Canadian athletes attempting to reach the podium at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will also be looking fashionable for the entire world to see.
Four suicides in New Zealand linked to Ontario's Kenneth Law
New Zealand's coroner has ruled that four of its citizens died after ordering products from an Ontario man who is facing murder charges for selling poisonous substances.
IN PICTURES Here's what Calgary's new event centre 'Scotia Place' will look like
The name of Calgary’s new event centre was unveiled on Monday. The arena will be called Scotia Place.
Toronto woman charged with voyeurism after taking 'intimate' photos during massage: police
A Toronto woman who allegedly took 'intimate' photos of an individual who was getting a massage has been charged with voyeurism, police say.
These are the four leading vice-presidential picks for Kamala Harris' campaign
No one knows the importance of selecting the right running mate better than Vice President Kamala Harris.
Kamala Harris endorsement excites Democrats, but what could it mean for Canada?
U.S. President Joe Biden's endorsement of Vice-President Kamala Harris as his possible replacement stirred excitement among Democrats, but one analyst has concerns about what a potential Harris presidency would mean for Canada.
Harris steps into the limelight. And the coconut trees and memes have followed
If you're trying to get up to speed on Vice President Kamala Harris' swift emergence as Democrats' possible nominee this fall, you really need to know your memes.