NUS terminates projects with ex-NMP Viswa Sadasivan in light of sexual harassment allegations

• The National University of Singapore said it has terminated all projects with former Member of Parliament Viswa Sadasivan and his company 
• This was in light of sexual harassment allegation made by two women against him
• Mr Viswa had also stepped down as a member of the NUS Alumni Advisory Board
• Mr Viswa told TODAY he was disappointed with the way his alma mater made the announcement
• He also denied the womens' allegations of sexual harassment, adding that it was at most "inappropriate conduct”.

SINGAPORE — The National University of Singapore (NUS) said on Saturday (Feb 20) that it has discontinued all projects with former Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Viswa Sadasivan and his company Strategic Moves in light of sexual harassment allegations made by two women against him.

Mr Viswa has also stepped down as a member of the NUS Alumni Advisory Board, the university said in an email to alumni members on Saturday evening.

When contacted by TODAY, Mr Viswa said he was disappointed with the way NUS has chosen “to publicise and promote” the matter.

He also denied the womens' allegations of sexual harassment, adding that it was at most "inappropriate conduct”.

NUS’ announcement came after two women, stand-up comedian Sharul Channa and doctoral researcher Kiran Kandade, alleged earlier this month that Mr Viswa had made sexually inappropriate comments to them in a professional setting.

“The university does not condone any behaviour or action that is disrespectful and disparaging of individuals, regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion or age,” said NUS in its email.

It noted that the incident between Mr Viswa and Ms Sharul took place during an online interview series called Inconvenient Questions that is hosted by Mr Viswa.

“This series is a collaboration between Strategic Moves and the National University of Singapore Society (NUSS) — a graduate club and registered society which is a separate and independent entity from the university,” NUS added, without saying what projects the university had with Mr Viswa and his company.

When asked about this by TODAY, an NUS spokesman said the university does not have further details to share.

Mr Viswa told TODAY on Saturday evening that he had agreed to step down from the alumni advisory board as he did not want any members of the board or the university to “suffer (any) collateral damage”.

“This is the truth. Whatever has happened, let it be with me,” he said, adding that “it has not been an easy stretch for the university” in having to manage recent sexual misconduct cases on campus and he didn’t want to add to it.

He had sent an email on Saturday afternoon to NUS President Tan Eng Chye, who also chairs the Alumni Advisory Board, to convey his decision to step down after serving for 15 years since its inception.

Mr Viswa added that he had discussed the termination of commercial contracts with Professor Tan and “came to the mutual agreement that it’s best to disengage given the controversy”.

On NUS' email to the alumni, he said: “I'm disappointed the university has chosen to publicise and promote in the way it has done. 

“It saddens me that after having served on the board for 15 years…  I thought that there should have been a little bit more consideration from my alma mater in the matter such as this, especially since I did say categorically that I will not accept the allegations of sexual harassment,” he added.

“At the most, I made it clear yesterday, it was inappropriate conduct,” he said, referring to a Facebook post on the issue he had put up on Friday.

“Inappropriate conduct does not necessarily amount to sexual harassment. I think this entire thing has been blown completely out of proportion.”

In a Facebook post on Feb 4, Ms Sharul had recounted that Mr Viswa had asked her why she was wearing a rose brooch, to which the comedian replied that she had put it on to distract people from the pattern on her top.

According to Ms Sharul, Mr Viswa then replied: “It would be more distracting if you were wearing only that rose”.

Ms Sharul said she “was taken aback” by the “inappropriate and offensive” innuendo.

She added that Mr Viswa later “apologised unconditionally” to her over email for “causing discomfort, offence or hurt, even though it was unintended”.

Responding to Ms Sharul’s post, Ms Kiran wrote in the comments section about her earlier experience with Mr Viswa in March 2016. 

Posting a screenshot of a WhatsApp conversation between them, Mr Viswa appears to have asked Ms Kiran if his “proposition to kiss passionately” had offended her.

Mr Viswa said in his Feb 19 Facebook post that he had sent Ms Kiran a private email apology earlier in the day.

The Association of Women for Action and Research had on Feb 7 expressed support for the two women for speaking up on their experiences. 

NUSS RESPONDS

In a statement on Monday, NUSS president Edward Tay said any allegation against the society’s officers, employees, partners and service providers “will be given serious review”.

He added that NUSS had recently come to an arrangement with Strategic Moves to allow the society to broadcast the Inconvenient Questions series to its members via NUSS' YouTube channel. Strategic Moves would also incorporate NUSS' logo on the programmes.

Mr Tay said although the NUSS may offer its input on potential topics and speakers, it is “not involved in the actual production” of the series.

“This non-commercial arrangement with Strategic Moves is in line with one of NUSS' objectives, which is to promote the raising of the social and cultural level of the people of Singapore and to examine any local problems and topics of local interest,” Mr Tay said.

He added that the arrangement will be put on hold for the near future in view of the allegations against Mr Viswa.

“Following the moratorium, future programmes will be reviewed on a case by case basis,” said Mr Tay.