EDITOR’S NOTE: Some phrases in this story have been altered for the purpose of clarification. 
The University defended its firing of a tenured professor over allegations of sexual harassment yesterday, saying news reports about Teresa Buchanan’s termination haven’t been “entirely factual.”
University Media Relations Director Ernie Ballard released a statement Wednesday regarding the recent dismissal of Buchanan, who worked as a tenured associate professor. Ballard previously declined to comment, intending to maintain his silence through expected litigation between Buchanan and the University.
“Teresa Buchanan was not terminated due to isolated incidents. LSU has documented evidence of a history of inappropriate behavior that included verbal abuse, intimidation and harassment of our students,” Ballard said in the statement.
Buchanan maintained that she received only satisfactory reviews and that the only testimony given against her was “anonymous student evaluations.” She claims the faculty board did not merit these complaints as testimony because they could not be substantiated.
 “In addition to LSU’s own findings, a review by her faculty peers found that Dr. Buchanan violated policies regarding student harassment,” Ballard said in the statement.
Although the board, as previously reported by The Daily Reveille, did acknowledge her guilt, according to Buchanan, it recommended that Alexander not dismiss her.
 “Additionally, she was asked not to return to more than one elementary school in the Baton Rouge area within the last three years because of her inappropriate behavior,” Ballard said in the statement.
Buchanan acknowledged that a teacher in a Zachary, Louisiana, school complained about the way she reviewed student teachers’ performance and found her aggressive or harsh.
“This case is not about the rights of tenured professors or academic freedom, as some of the press have reported,” Ballard said in the statement.
The statement said, instead, the University’s action was intended to protect students from abusive behavior.
The University’s release came a week after The Daily Reveille published Buchanan’s account, which has drawn attention from several news sources and inspired action from the American Association of University Professors, an organization that represents the interests of college faculty members across the country.
Ballard’s statement does not offer examples of abuse to corroborate the University’s claims. Ballard declined to give specifics due to University policy regarding ongoing litigation.
Buchanan, who also received the release, said she was offended by allegations the University made against her and maintains her actions are protected under academic freedom policies. She said Jordan Kurland, associate general secretary for the AAUP, reviewed her case and contacted LSU President F. King Alexander last week and expressed the AAUP’s concern about her firing in a letter pending other action by the group against the University.