USC foundation pays for professor accused of sexual harassment to get retirement benefits
The University of South Carolina’s Educational Foundation agreed to pay an undisclosed amount so that David Voros, a former professor accused of sexual harassment in three lawsuits, can receive full state retirement benefits, according to a resignation agreement. Voros resigned earlier this year.
Voros, who had been a tenured painting professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, was accused of sexual harassment in three separate lawsuits filed by a former student and two coworkers.
One lawsuit, which was filed in 2018 by former student Allison Duvanant, was settled for $75,000. In the suit, Duvanant accused Voros of making sexual advances towards her during a study abroad trip to Italy. The other two lawsuits, which also allege unwanted sexual advances, are pending.
As part of the resignation agreement, the foundation agreed to a payment to the state retirement system in order to qualify Voros as a 28-year employee, according to documents obtained by The State through a public records request.
State employees whose employment began before 2012 must be 65 years old or have 28 years of service to receive unreduced monthly retirement benefits, according to the South Carolina Retirement System’s website. According to documents, the USC Educational Foundation, on Voros’ behalf, had to purchase three years, five months and 16 days of service credit from the state so he would receive these benefits.
The State asked USC how much the foundation paid for Voros’ service credit. University spokesman Jeff Stensland declined to discuss Voros’ departure.
Voros agreed to discharge USC, and anyone associated with USC, from any complaints or costs whatsoever, including discrimination claims, according to the agreement.
Nothing in the agreement can stop Voros from defending or prosecuting any pending litigation, according to documents. Two lawsuits in which he is accused of sexual harassment are still active, and USC is still obligated to represent Voros in those cases. Two defamation lawsuits he has filed are also unresolved, including a federal suit against The State Media Co.
USC and Voros are not allowed to make any disparaging or defamatory comments about the other, per the agreement’s stipulations, and when asked by prospective employers, the university’s Office of Human Resources can only provide “neutral” references regarding his employment.
Voros agreed to not seek or accept any future employment at the university, documents showed. He was also required to keep the terms of the resignation agreement confidential.
Prior to his resignation, Voros hadn’t taught on campus since 2020. After a year-long sabbatical, he was supposed to teach several online courses in the spring semester of 2022 before the university reversed that decision following sizable backlash.
Voros issued a statement that did not address his resignation agreement, but complained about The State’s coverage of his legal disputes.
Robert Richmond, a theater professor who also faced allegations of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct, shared his intentions to leave USC with the university in November, according to a letter obtained by The State through a public records request. His resignation was effective July 1. In the letter, Richmond did not give a reason for his departure. But he told the Post and Courier in April that he was leaving to pursue work in New York City.
Richmond admitted to sending texts to a student asking her to sleep with him, which he called “witty banter” between friends, records showed.
Richmond was accused of asking female students to perform a “lap dance” to audition for a school play, and one student said they had a sexual encounter with Richmond, which he denied. Another student said Richmond served her alcohol until she was too drunk to drive home.
Complaints against Richmond were investigated in 2019, but USC determined he hadn’t violated university policy. However, following allegations published in The State, he was barred from teaching classes at USC in 2021.
