Jeffrey Hadler

I write this op-ed an ocean away from the Berkeley campus. As I recollect my experiences over the past three years, my breathing shallows. A familiar arm pain resurfaces.

Campus professor Blake Wentworth sued the UC Board of Regents for discrimination and retaliation Wednesday, after a slew of sexual harassment allegations against him came to light last spring.

In a lawsuit filed May 19, Nicole Hemenway, who graduated in 2015, revealed a series of disturbing details about her relationship with Blake Wentworth, her former thesis adviser and South and Southeast Asian studies professor. She accused Wentworth of sexual harassment — citing instances of inappropriate comments, physical contact and unprofessional behavior.

Starting Fall semester, students in language courses like Vietnamese, Filipino, and Hindi may experience more breathing room –– the courses of the South and Southeast Asian Studies Department are among the latest to utilize additional campus funding to reduce class sizes.