A Kennesaw State University has placed an academic adviser on administrative leave while the school investigates a student’s viral 30-second video of his interaction with her.
In the video, Abby Dawson, the school’s director of advising and internships in the Department of Exercise Science and Sport Management, accused the student of “harassment” for apparently sitting in the room and waiting to speak with his academic adviser.
Kevin Bruce, a rising senior at the Georgia school, uploaded the video of the interaction on Wednesday night.
Rude advisors at Kennesaw . Smh pic.twitter.com/ugcX4gnIsp
— KB (@IamKB_) May 14, 2015
The video begins with the adviser — initially identified by Bruce and other students as Dawson — walking into the room and telling Bruce that he was harassing another adviser, Margaret Tilley.
“I’m not harassing no one,” Bruce said.
“You are,” Dawson replied.
“I’m not,” Bruce continued.
Dawson threatened to call security and told Bruce that he could fill out a form “just like everyone else does.”
Bruce responded that he was just waiting to talk to someone.
“Sitting here until someone is available is harassing them,” Dawson said.
In his tweet, Bruce called the adviser “rude.”
In a statement, the University said that Dawson was placed on administrative leave pending “comprehensive” investigation into the matter, which could take two weeks.
“Kennesaw State is dedicated to providing a positive academic experience for all students,” said Ken Harmon, KSU’s provost and vice president for academic affairs said in a statement. “We also have a responsibility to provide all students, faculty and staff with a fair and thorough review process.”
In an interview with Atlanta’s Fox affiliate WAGA, Bruce explained that he was trying to ask his exercise science department adviser a question and was told to come back in an hour when she would be available.
Bruce said he decided to wait instead of leaving and coming back. He began to record the interaction based on a previous experience with Dawson, he said.
“Abby Dawson has an attitude, that’s why I knew exactly when to record her,” Bruce told the Fox affiliate.
“I waited for a second to see if she was going to call security, because there was no reason for her to call security,” he added.
It is unclear what occurred before Bruce began recording, but the incident stirred up simmering frustration on Kennesaw’s campus about the state of advising in that department.
For others not on campus, the incident highlighted broader problems with the higher education system, spawning the hashtag #ItsBiggerThanKSU.
Students of any race, creed, gender, or sexuality deserve respect from facility/educators at any level. #ItsBiggerThanKSU
— Ashanti Martinez (@ShantMartinezMD) May 14, 2015
Fact: Only 15% of KSU students finish their degree in 4 years. And we wonder why… #ItsBiggerThanKSU
— THE Jordan Johnson (@TheJordanJ) May 14, 2015
Students pay thousands for their education and the faculty acts like students work for them✋Students pay your salary. #ItsBiggerThanKSU
— Mrs. Eric Berry (@Miss_Facetious) May 14, 2015
Dawson has not said anything publicly since the video went viral.
A woman who identified herself as Dawson’s mother told The Washington Post that her daughter could not comment until after the investigation is complete. The woman asked not to be identified by name.
Other students have voiced complaints about their interactions with Dawson.
#ItsBiggerThanKSU I had a VERY similar situation dealing with the same KSU advising staff!!! pic.twitter.com/BU7lfHhtLv
— Austin Smith (@_A_Smith) May 14, 2015
@IamKB_ so glad you recorded that video. I met with Abby Dawson one time and she was so disrespectful. How did she get hired here?
— Matlanta Hawks 2 (@Matt_Lewis1005) May 14, 2015
The world is finally gettin to see what I have went thru w/ Abby Dawson the past few years. There's been so much more too. #ItsBiggerThanKSU
— Taylor HAWKS (@TGreenhutOD) May 14, 2015
Abby Dawson is the worst. She's very discouraging & will only give you 5 mins of her time. She has not help me at all!! #ItsBiggerThanKSU
— nyjiria guider (@nyjiria101) May 14, 2015
Definitely not a fit advisor .. Doesn't enjoy what she does and it always shows. #ItsBiggerThanKSU @kennesawstate pic.twitter.com/XUfbi7Rz5M
— Amber Wann (@AmberWann) May 14, 2015
Bruce also tweeted about another tense email exchange with Dawson:
As you can see this been occurring for a minute man … I've been keeping it professional. pic.twitter.com/WddYdVlExj
— KB (@IamKB_) May 14, 2015
Bruce said Friday that he hasn’t yet met with representatives of the university about his problems with the advising program.
[This post has been updated.]