NYU Drops Flute Prof After 11 Women Accuse Him Of Harassment

WEST VILLAGE, NY — New York University fired a flute professor this month after a news report detailed accounts from nearly a dozen women who said the professor inappropriately touched or sexually harassed them.

The professor in question, Bradley Garner, was one of the world’s most renown flutists. In addition to NYU, he has taught at the University of Cincinnati and at Juilliard.

Garner has taught as an adjunct professor at NYU since 1999, according to his resume.

"NYU was unaware of allegations surrounding Bradley Garner until we recently received an inquiry from a Cincinnati Enquirer reporter," the school said in a statement. "As of February 7, Mr. Garner is no longer an adjunct faculty member at NYU. Providing our students with a safe space to learn is our priority, and sexual misconduct of any kind is not tolerated."

Garner primarily worked at the University of Cincinnati, where he resigned in December in the middle of an investigation into his conduct. On Wednesday, the Cincinnati Enquirer published an investigation detailing accusations from 11 women who said the powerful professor had kissed, touched or sexually harassed them over the course of the previous two decades.

The Enquirer reported that the University of Cincinnati, where Garner taught at the College-Conservatory of Music, began investigating complaints against Garner in 2016. A report into his conduct found evidence of "unwanted sexual advances and verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature," a "hostile environment" and conduct that was "severe, persistent or pervasive," according to the Enquirer's investigation.

Another professor told the Enquirer that Garner secretly filmed himself having sex with two students. Garner later showed the illicit videos to the professor.

One student told investigators Garner said during a breathing demonstration, "I want you to breathe so low that the bottom of your pants pops open. I promise I won’t look … but maybe I will," the Enquirer reported.

Another student told investigators about Garner "smacking (her) on the butt" when she bent over to pick up her flute before asking her to "bend over again," the newspaper reported.

Garner has denied all of the accusations through an attorney.

The day after the Cincinnati Enquirer published its investigation, NYU announced taht Garner was no longer teaching at the University.

Image credit: Ciara McCarthy / Patch