DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A student accused a Bethune Cookman University professor of kissing and groping her behind closed doors, and he could soon face charges. The school is saying very little about it, but students told WFTV he's in classes.
It all allegedly happened in the social sciences building, in the center of campus, where there have been similar accusations against other professors in the last couple years.
A 22-year-old student told WFTV that, after asking Dr. Sampson Oli for a few dollars for lunch last month, something he helped her with once before, he closed his office door, kissed her and grabbed her, and then gave her the money.
"I think there should be a line between students and professors and, when it's crossed, then something should be done," student Brioni Williams told WFTV.
The student went directly to a staff member and then to police. Daytona Beach police confirmed Sampson Oli is the focus of a misdemeanor complaint sent to the State Attorney's Office, but police refused to release the paperwork.
The State Attorney's Office confirmed they received the misdemeanor battery complaint three weeks ago, but are still reviewing it.
"I never heard of anything like that happening before here, so its very discouraging, But BCU is still a great school, regardless," student Aerial Waller told WFTV.
The university would only release the following statement: "Bethune-Cookman University is conducting an ongoing internal investigation into these allegations. To protect all parties, the university does not publicly discuss personnel matters. The university will continue to work closely with the Daytona Beach Police Department."
A website selling Oli's textbooks describes him as head of the Criminal Justice Department and author of a book called, "Violence Against Women: An Alternative Perspective."
Two years ago, the university fired four professors in the same department accused of trading sex for grades with young women. None of those cases ever got to this point, where charges were recommended.
WFTV
