In your opinon......................should I go through with it..................................(hi simon.....long time)
| On August 4th of 2008 at approximately 8:00-8:10am I was coming from the front office after receiving a green sheet for being absent on Thursday, July 31st 2008. I was passing the women's restroom on my way back to class, when I saw Steve walking the barren hallways. He didn't notice me since I was walking far behind him. I then decided to say good morning, as I do everyone in school, including the janitor every morning. Steve abruptly stopped and turned around, waiting for me to catch up to where he was standing. Then some small talk, "how are you", type things. Steve was standing to my right and put his arm around my shoulders, not uncommon for him to do, even squeezing my neck sometimes. This time his hand stayed limp above my left breast. He made a comment about having an unfavorable morning and needed something soft to lean on or be next to, I can't remember the exact wording. Then he asked if he could grab my chest, and I can't remember the exact wording on that either because of what happened seconds later. My answer to his question was a quick NO, and I thought he was joking around with me, like I am used to around school and the shop- Steve isn't the only one I get comments from, but I laugh it off or talk "smack" back to them. This is where things crossed the line! Not 20-30 seconds after I promptly said NO, he grabbed the top portion of my left breast. I jumped away and swiftly hit him in the chest open handed with my right arm and hand and yelled "STEVE!". Afterwards making a much larger distance between us and me walking quickly into Buffalo's classroom. I was shocked, startled, angry, in disbelief, and confused all at the same time. I KNOW he heard me say NO. I am not soft spoken, ask anyone. I decided to focus my attention to what was going on in class and to deal with it or not later. I told no one.....not even my live-in boyfriend. Trying to decide if I should or not. The next day at school, Steve had an "issue" with one of his female students who is in a battered relationship from what I could tell. When he called me over to talk about it with me, trying to find some understanding from a women's point of view; I found myself posed defensively, arms crossed over my chest and standing a good distance away. We weren't around everyone else, but still out in the open and I still felt my stomach drop. That's when I knew I had to tell someone. I am not writing this with malice. I respect Steve as an instructor, he is a very good teacher, and I would see it as a horrible loss if he were fired from school. At the same token, I do not believe it is ok to behave in this manner. I am a very outspoken woman and it would pain me very deeply if after I leave here, and this continued to a woman or women who are not as outspoken as I am. I want this letter to be part of his record or file in case he is unable to keep his hands to himself. Then there would be a record of his previous actions. I do hope that my letter will deter, or open his eyes as to how serious and wrong this is to his female students, the school, and himself. This abuse of trust and power, especially calling himself a preacher-minister, a teacher is grossly wrong. I considered him a friend, and I think that is what hurt me the most, cause a true friend wouldn't cross that line.............EVER! |