UW Felons

The University of Wisconsin. Where individuals who are guilty of rape can remain on the payroll...

Convicted UW Professor was allowed to work on campus
MADISON - A University of Wisconsin-Madison professor was allowed to work on campus for months after he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting young girls even though some colleagues were threatened by his presence, according to a document released Thursday.

Roberto Coronado, a professor of medical physiology, was allowed to continue to work while he was on bail facing sexual assault charges last year. Coronado pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting three girls in March but was allowed to continue working until he was sentenced to 12 years in prison in August.

The UW System Board of Regents fired Coronado last month. The board released a copy of its decision detailing the facts of the case and the rationale for firing him Thursday in response to an open records request by The Associated Press.

The decision said Coronado had initially been banned from using his laboratory and office after he was charged in June 2004 and released on bail.

But the university eventually worked out a deal with his attorney in February 2005 allowing Coronado to use an office outside the department's facilities and to use his laboratory for three hours per week.

Eventually the Board of Regents got it right.

The regents' opinion said the board rejected Coronado's arguments that he should keep his job because the crimes were not related to his duties as a faculty member and that he should continue to be paid.

"Professor Coronado's conduct involved heinous and egregious sexual acts against children, which evidences a clear disregard for the safety and welfare of others," the decision said. "His conduct endangered the public and violated the integrity and trust Wisconsin citizens expect and require of the UW System and its tenured faculty."

More on this story.

What took them so long?

The recent Audit of UW hiring and employment policies revealed many troubling examples that point to a glaring need for reform.

A loud 'attaboy' or 'attagirl' to the first legislator who proposes a change in State Statutes that allows the UW System to deny or terminate the employment of individuals found guilty of rape or murder.

Anyone who thinks this is a bad idea is welcome to explain their rationale in the comments section, below.