The Ithacan

Accuracy • Independence • Integrity

The case is undoubtedly complex, meaning our response must be complex and nuanced as well. Anything less would be a moral failure on the part of the campus community.

efore we pass judgment on Dr. Collado’s character, let’s remind ourselves that the accusations arrived anonymously. 

President Collado was transparent throughout the hiring process and beyond, though to varying degrees with different constituencies.

Hiring a president in total secrecy isn’t just unfair to the campus — it’s unfair to the president, who comes into office crippled by the community’s lack of ownership in the decision.

Ithaca College cannot expect us to trust therapists and medical staff with our most painful traumas if, when we have something inconvenient to say, we are immediately dismissed.

We need to acknowledge that sexual misconduct thrives in academia. And sometimes, it’s institutionally sanctioned.

We feel fortunate to be working with someone who embodies such professional and personal authenticity.

We were also aware of the fact that the complete court file was shared with the Board of Trustees, which has ultimate responsibility for the selection of the college’s president.

Throughout her time at Rutgers-Newark, Shirley was highly regarded—and remains so—as a person who exudes great care, person to person, for friends, colleagues, and all who come to know her.

But knowing what I do, I am convinced that what might otherwise be believable is in fact not so. I have knowledge of President Collado’s character as lived out over many years.

Ithaca College is lucky to have someone like Shirley as President in these challenging times for higher education.

Ithaca College President Shirley M.  Collado was accused of sexually abusing a female patient while working as a psychologist in Washington, D.C., in 2000 and was convicted of sexual abuse in 2001.