Duval County

UNF ROTC professor fired amid sexual harassment, discrimination allegations

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Action News Jax has confirmed a UNF ROTC professor is off the job amid accusations of sexual harassment and discrimination.

Wednesday, we spoke with the alleged victim -- a student -- who wanted to share her story for the first time.

Tanisha Crisp said she’s critical of how this was handled, and said she wants to empower others out there who may be in similar circumstances to come forward.

“The individual inappropriately touched me while we were working out,” Crisp said.

Crisp said the person responsible was the ROTC professor, and this happened near the end of 2019.

“He stood over me while I was in a sit-up position, and after looking at him oddly, he then reached to grab my legs to pull me closer to him,” Crisp said. “I ran off the university as fast as I could, and they did nothing.”

Crisp said the professor also sent her inappropriate texts, usually involving her pregnancy.

“He would randomly text me at odd times of the night, ‘Hey how old are you?’ ‘How’s the baby doing?” Crisp said. “You should be disqualified, but because you’re in green to go you’re good to go.”

Crisp went to campus police, but the professor was not charged with a crime.

For that reason, and because the university wouldn’t confirm the name, Action News Jax is not identifying him.

UNF sent this statement: “After the initial complaint, UNF’S [Equal Opportunity and Inclusion] Office promptly interviewed the student and coordinated with the U.S. Army ROTC, which conducted a thorough investigation. The person in question was removed within a week of the student’s interview with EOI, and has not been affiliated with UNF since that time.”

Wednesday night, Action News Jax reached the professor allegedly involved. He told us “no comment.”