Records released detail what led to sudden resignation of Angelo State University president
SAN ANGELO - In less than a 24-hour period before a Texas university president resigned in 2020, an employee reported "multiple" sexual harassments in the workplace and claimed she was retaliated against, according to university records released on Tuesday.
Brian May served as the president of Angelo State University, part of the Texas Tech University System, for eight years. He was well-known throughout the San Angelo area, attended events with city and state officials, and previously served as the color commentator for nearby Wall High School's football games.
His sudden resignation on April 10, 2020, shocked the community, even more so when no reason was given.
The San Angelo Standard-Times reached out to ASU, Texas Tech and The U.S. Department of Education in search for a reason.
At 4:19 p.m. Tuesday, June 7, 2022, an official with Texas Tech released several records, including a document detailing the actions hours before the resignation.
Texas Tech System releases record of retaliation after sexual harassment reported
At 5:46 p.m. April 8, 2020, an Angelo State University employee reached out to the Texas Tech Administration Office of Equal Opportunity. The employee's claim detailed "multiple instances of alleged verbal and physical sexual advances" which included kissing and sexual touching on several occasions in the workplace, according to a summary of investigation.
On April 10, 2020, the office's assistant vice chancellor met with Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell over Skype and alerted him to the investigation. Chancellor Mitchell was tasked with informing May and immediately started driving to San Angelo.
He texted May at 1:37 p.m. about wanting to meet. After receiving 20 calls and three texts from May before 2:03 p.m., Mitchell stopped driving and called him. Mitchell told May a complaint of sexual misconduct had been filed against him by the employee.
May was told of the investigation procedure and told to not contact the employee. Nearly 30 minutes later, May started attempting to contact her.
Between 2:32 p.m. and 3:28 p.m., May attempted to call the employee 20 times, 17 of which went unanswered. He also texted her at 2:32 p.m., asking that she call him "regarding a work matter."
In one of the calls, he told the complainant she "needed to recant" and tell the Office of Equal Opportunity that "the matters ... did not happen."
He gave the employee the assistant vice chancellor's private cell phone number, and told her to not let the office know he called her. He texted her again at 3:24 p.m. asking for her to call him again, but she did not.
The employee blocked his number. Later that evening, May resigned before the office could complete its investigation.
"Nevertheless, even without completing the original investigation or making a finding of whether (May's) actions constituted sexual harassment or other prohibited activity, we found that by contacting the complainant after being instructed not to and telling her to recant and withdraw her complaint, (his) actions constituted interference with an investigation and retaliation and are thereby in violation ...," the report stated.
Hours after his resignation, Chancellor Mitchell sent May a letter at 9:13 p.m.
"I ask that you make arrangements to move out of the President's residence and return any (ASU) property leased or loaned to you as soon as possible," he stated in the letter.
Related: Title IX: Falling short at 50
What happened next: Fight for information leads to court, Texas Attorney General's ruling
In July 2021, the San Angelo Standard-Times began the process to file open records requests with ASU, Texas Tech and The U.S. Department of Education. These documents asked for Title IX complaints against May filed during his presidency.
In November 2021, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton ruled the records should be released. In a response from May's legal team, they argued these records should not be given, as May was now a "private citizen."
May's legal team filed a Temporary and Permanent Injunction against Texas Tech and the Attorney General's Office. This could have sealed the records from the public's view.
As the new year began, the Standard-Times' legal department, through USA TODAY, filed motions to dissolve the injunction. The latest motion was heard in Austin on Tuesday, May 26, 2022.
Nearly a year after the initial requests, May dropped the injunction lawsuit on June 3, opening the way for the records to be released.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Former Angelo State president resigned amid sex harassment claim
