Winona State University dean let go for sexual harassment - WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |

WINONA, Minnesota (WXOW) -- A dean at Winona State University has been terminated for sexual harassment.

The university learned last fall that some of its students had been subjected to inappropriate interaction by Bill Murphy, the dean of the College of Business.

The interaction appears to have been directed at a small number of adult male students, primarily in the College of Business. It involved highly personal sexually-oriented discussions and, in some instances, requests to photograph the students in various degrees of dress.

Winona State University President, Scott Olson, says he immediately began an investigation upon learning about the situation. Murphy has not worked on the campus since that time and was terminated from employment in late September 2012.

Olson says law enforcement officials were notified and the school is not aware of any criminal activities in the matter.

Although Murphy was terminated in September, the school wasn't able to make the situation public until today because of Minnesota data privacy laws.

Olson has informed students, faculty, and staff that the University will not tolerate this kind of conduct by any employee regardless of their role. He says they have clear policies in place to promote the safety and well-being of everyone at the University.