Former ISU grad student wins new trial

A former Iowa State University grad student will get a new trial for her sexual harassment lawsuit. In her lawsuit, Julie DeVall McElroy accused Iowa State administrators of failing to protect her from sexual harassment in for her job as a graduate assistant. She worked for I-S-U education professor Lynn Glass back in 1995, and an I-S-U affirmative action office investigation concluded the professor acted in an “inappropriate and unprofessional” manner. The professor was suspended but a hearing regarding his firing was canceled when he was diagnosed with cancer, and he later died. McElroy filed a lawsuit against I-S-U and it was heard by a jury, but they ruled against her. She filed an appeal, complaining about the judge’s instructions to the jury. The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that jury instruction was “misleading and confusing” and she should get a new trial.