[MRM]

Yes she was sexually harassed. Preferential treatment to someone who has a sexual relationship with the person who has the authority is sexual harassment and discrimination against all those who did not receive the preferential treatment.

She should run, not walk to a lawyer who specializes in representing emplyees in public sector employment litigation. She should not use just any lawyer, and not even just an employment lawyer. She needs an employmennt specialist who has particular expertise representing public sector professional employees. There are special rights for public employees, especially university employees. She will be surprised to fun out how many rights she has.

Yes, the process will be uneasant but she will find the vindication she receives in the end to be worth the effort.

By the way, it's not even a close call whether this is sexual harassment to the others in the department who did not get preferential treatment. That's been a settled legal issue since Title VII was passed. But it sounds like she needs a more highly specialized attorney.