In this time of the #MeToo movement, where women (and many men) are finally stepping up and saying something about sexual harassment, we would think that vigilance and good ethics should be the rule of the day. Sadly, many people have still not gotten the message including Texas state Sen. Charles Schwertner. True or false – use common sense in your response.
The senator is being accused of sending sexually explicit text messages, including pictures of his genitals to a University of Texas graduate student. The story has been carried by the Austin American-Statesman.
If the allegations are true, the University of Texas will ban the senator from campus, but in my view, that will be the least of his problems.
What if it’s true?
The story, as conveyed to the university and to the local newspapers, is that Charles Schwertner was approached by a graduate student on campus who expressed an interest in working for the state legislature. They apparently exchanged messages on social media and then they started to send text messages to one another.
In one of those texts, Schwertner allegedly stated to the victim, “I just really want to f— you.” He also sent a picture of his genitals. An official at the University of Texas who had seen the exchange verifies that texts of that nature had taken place.
surprisingly, the state senator has stated that he “categorically denies any knowledge of the accusations,” and that he “he played no part in the behavior described.”
Amazingly, the state senator is an orthopedic surgeon who is married to an obstetrician. He has three sons. He has apparently stirred a great deal of controversy because he strongly backs legislation to restrict abortion and he is running against a Democrat in the coming election in November.
If it is true, his unethical behavior will impact his public service and will, no doubt, lead to a loss in the upcoming election. Undoubtedly, the accusations will lead to a loss of patients – and business – in his orthopedic practice. What parent, woman or most men would want a surgeon to touch them who had made the choice to sexually harass a graduate student? Finally, what will this do to his marriage? I can’t pretend to know how Schwertner and his wife are doing in their private lives but this certainly will not help a failing marriage nor his relationship with his three children.
What if it’s not true?
We must equally allow that either the incidents the graduate student allege are lies or they were staged to make the senator look bad given his restricted abortion position. It is certainly not beyond comprehension that his social media account could have been hacked and even his text messages falsified.
Here is where ethics meets the present-day media. There are certainly false reports of sexual harassment that have been documented and adjudicated. “Smear jobs” are not unknown. At a university the size of UT, there are no lack of individuals who have the expertise to hack his personal cell phone. It is not a difficult assignment. In fact, ethically, it is more of a challenge to instill in IT or computer programming professionals the avoidance of ethical misconduct because it is so easy to do.
If, as the senator says that he played no part in the behavior described, he must step out in front of this as defend his position as aggressively as possible, up to and including legal action. This is not only for the sake of his reputation as a senator but as a physician, husband, and man.
Ethically, and not in a media-driven frenzy, he has every right to defend himself.
The Ethical Approach
I know neither the senator nor his accuser. However, for future cases of this nature here is how the situation might have been more ethically handled.
A person in power (male or female, and not necessarily a politician) with a somewhat unpopular or controversial view makes an appearance on campus. He or she is approached by a graduate student (male or female) who is interested in working for their organization.
Stop.
Here is where a sensible, ethical approach is called for, and in fact demanded. The senator’s answer should have been something like:
“Public service is a noble career. Call my office, and I’m sure my assistant might have a few ideas for you.” That’s it. He owed nothing more.
There should be nothing personal exchanged especially cell phone numbers. The senator should have then thanked the graduate student and simply walked away. His focus should have been the avoidance of bad choices. Instead, he ran to those choices. True or false – use common sense, makes the most sense!
