ALYSSA BUMP
Editor in Chief
CHLOE KOWALYK
News Editor
Trigger warning: This article discusses potentially triggering themes of sexual assault. Please be advised before deciding to proceed reading this article.
On the morning of Feb. 4, an allegation of attempted sexual assault was sent to SUNY Fredonia President Stephen Kolison via email.
In the email, a SUNY Fredonia alum alleged an attempted sexual assault took place in the early 2000s by Dr. Stephen Kershnar, a professor of philosophy. At the time that the alleged attempted assault occurred, the victim was a student of Kershnar. The former student, who has chosen to remain anonymous due to the nature of the allegations, informed The Leader of the email they sent to Kolison. The Leader cannot publish the details of the allegation at this time for legal reasons.
Kolison was informed that this information would be released in The Leader via email. He was also asked if he would like to comment on the matter. On Feb. 8, Kolison commented via email “Please be assured that the current administration takes any and all allegations seriously and directs them to the appropriate department for review and, if necessary, investigation.”
Kershnar was also contacted to see if he or his attorney had a comment on the allegation or the release of it in The Leader. Kershnar is still not allowed to have contact with SUNY Fredonia students during the “investigation,” in reference to Kolison’s email to students and staff. However, Kershnar’s defense attorney, Barry Covert, replied, “[Kershnar] indicated that you reached out to him regarding a baseless accusation of attempted assault. No such charge has ever been made against him.”
Covert works for the Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria firm. According to the firm’s website, Covert “represents victims of sexual abuse, including adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. He fights on behalf of his clients to hold abusers and those who allow abuse to occur accountable. [Covert] works to ensure his clients receive the validation they deserve for the trauma they have endured.”
However, this past November, Covert received media attention for his work as a defense attorney for Christopher J. Belter Jr., who pled guilty to raping four teenage girls in his home. Although Belter faced eight years of jail time for his crimes and was ruled a Level 3 sex offender, Covert assisted his client into recieving no jail time. More information about this case can be found in an article published by The Buffalo News and in multiple other articles online.
The Leader will continue to seek out updates about this matter.