Libel Exercise

Libel exercise

A sophomore at Springfield University claims a chemistry professor has sexually harassed her.

Karen Hart, 123 Hill Hall, says the professor, George O.T. Jungle, has touched her during tutoring sessions in his office and has invited her to his apartment several times. She said she declined his invitations. (This passage is libelous; you only have one side of the story. She has accused him, but has no evidence that he did anything to her, and we haven’t heard his side of the story, and you can omit 123 Hill Hall)

“I am having trouble in the class and I have to go see him to get help with my papers and projects,” Hart Said. “But I am scared to go in his office now.”


Jungle denied having an improper contact with the student and threatened this newspaper with a libel suit if it published the story.

Hart said she is thinking of filing a formal complaint with the university. (Since she hasn’t already filed the complaint, there is absolutely no evidence against the professor for sexual harassment.)

“I don’t know how to do that,” she said. “I don’t know what to do”.

After reading this news story draft, I don’t think it’s a good idea for this to be printed in the University paper. Even though the idea of sexual harassment isn’t what you expect to hear, and shouldn’t be tolerated, Karen has no valuable evidence of professor Jungle ever harassing her. Until Karen finally decides to file a claim against the professor, everything she says will be viewed as false; therefore she can be sued for libel by Jungle.