A restraining order was issued against a University employee Monday after a graduate student accused him of burglary, harassment and extensive sexual abuse.
Marc Boudreaux, assistant director of biotechnology and molecular medicine at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, has been ordered by the Family Court of East Baton Rouge to refrain from all forms of contact with Elizabeth Lum, animal science graduate student.
In the restraining order, Lum said Boudreaux broke into her apartment Friday and stole two laptops and a journal. She also accused him of sexual, physical and emotional abuse, occurring in 2009 and 2010.
Lum said she began working in the BioMMED lab, where Boudreaux is the assistant director, in 2008.
She said a relationship with Boudreaux began in late 2009 and became sexual by March 2010. Lum said she later attempted to end the relationship after learning a woman once employed by Boudreaux was living with him, but she said he threatened to jeopardize her job and educational progress if their relationship ended.
Lum told The Daily Reveille on Sunday that Boudreaux would say things like, “You can’t finish your Ph.D. without different.”
She said Boudreaux convinced her he was the only reason she was able to keep her job at the BioMMED lab, saying other staff members doubted her ability and intelligence.
“I was not myself,” Lum said, explaining he once convinced her she was the cause of the problems.
As all of this was occurring, harassment also took place on campus in the BioMMED lab, she said.
Lum said Boudreaux would approach her in the lab in the presence of other employees and address her attempts to move out of his residence and end communication with him.
Lum said Boudreaux went to her adviser and the BioMMED staff claiming she was “crazy” and unfit to continue her job.
She said she finally left Boudreaux’s residence and ended the relationship in September 2010 after informing friends of the abuse. Lum said she was alienated from her friends and family while living with Boudreaux.
Lum’s original request for a restraining order on Friday was denied because of insufficient allegations. Her apartment was broken into that same day, leading Lum to believe Boudreaux was the culprit. She filed a new request Monday, which was granted after the alleged break-in.
She said she found her apartment door ajar around 5:30 p.m. on Friday and discovered the unit had been trashed, with the word “bitch” written on a wall and a bathroom mirror.
Lum said her laptop, her current boyfriend’s laptop and a journal were taken — all containing information she said is “incriminating evidence” against Boudreaux in a sexual-harassment complaint filed with the Vet School’s human resources department.
Vet School Director of Public Relations Ginger Guttner said the school cannot comment on the allegations and restraining order because it’s a personnel issue.
The restraining order is in effect until Oct. 26, when a court case will be held to determine further legal action.
 
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Contact Brian Sibille at [email protected]