A graduate student’s complaints of sexual abuse and harassment by a University staff member that began in October led to job termination and multiple court hearings this semester.
Elizabeth Lum, animal science graduate student, told The Daily Reveille on Oct. 17 that she was granted a restraining order against Marc Boudreaux, assistant director of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine’s Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine Lab.
Lum said she and Boudreaux became friends after working together at the BioMMED lab and began a romantic relationship in early 2010, but Lum tried to end the relationship when she found out Boudreaux was living with another woman.
She said Boudreaux demanded she live with him and the woman and forced her to perform various sexual acts, claiming Boudreaux told her he would jeopardize her education and job if she refused. Lum said the abuse ended in September 2010 after friends moved her out of Boudreaux’s house.
Lum’s restraining order against Boudreaux was granted after she claimed he broke into her apartment and stole a laptop and a journal Oct. 14. Boudreaux was put on paid administrative leave by the LSU Vet School when the order was granted.
A second woman claiming sexual harassment by Boudreaux soon came forward.
Stacy Parker told The Daily Reveille on Oct. 19 that she was employed as a student worker in the same lab as Boudreaux in 2006. After bonding with Boudreaux, Parker said he began sexually harassing her at work, saying the abuse became severe enough that she had to quit.
“We’ve had multiple people leave because of him,” an anonymous Vet School employee told The Daily Reveille on Oct. 19.
Lum’s restraining order lasted until Oct. 25 when a court hearing was scheduled to determine whether an extended protective order should be granted. The hearing was rescheduled for Nov. 9 after Boudreaux’s attorney requested a continuance, and the hearing was moved a second time to Nov. 17 after a second continuance request from Lum’s attorney.
Boudreaux’s attorney Jill Craft told The Daily Reveille on Nov. 9 that Boudreaux received notification of his termination from the University that day.
“He is devastated by this whole situation,” Craft said, denying all allegations against Boudreaux.
The hearing proceeded Nov. 17 despite Lum’s initial desire to dismiss further legal action against Boudreaux. The request for a protective order was denied by Judge Pamela Baker with the East Baton Rouge Family Court, citing a lack of evidence to support the allegations.
Lum was ordered to reimburse Boudreaux for court and attorney fees totaling $1,500. She told The Daily Reveille on Nov. 17 that while the decision was frustrating, the University’s actions were sufficient in making her feel safe.
Craft said the decision proved Boudreaux’s innocence.
“Marc’s now focusing on putting his life back together,” Craft said.
 
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Contact Brian Sibille at [email protected]