Ex-BGSU prof cleared over e-mail

8/16/2007

HURON, Ohio - An eight-member jury in Huron Municipal Court last month cleared Donald Pryor, a former part-time instructor at the Bowling Green State University Firelands campus, of charges that he harassed a professor through an e-mail.

Loretta Riddle, Mr. Pryor's lawyer, said the e-mail her client sent to Christine Genovese, an associate professor who was Mr. Pryor's supervisor, was a "take-this-job-and-shove-it letter. He was quitting his job, and he [said in court] that he was venting," Ms. Riddle said. "His comment was that he should've just resigned instead of venting."

Ms. Genovese taught Mr. Pryor's class on a Wednesday in April and sent him an e-mail about changes she wanted made. She contacted authorities the next day after receiving an e-mail response from Mr. Pryor that said, in part: "May God punish my enemies since I can't," and " no money and no power. Which power is I know I shouldn't say this but exactly what I seek," according to a police report.

Mr. Pryor, 36, of Collins, Ohio, was arrested and charged with telecommunications harassment. He was exonerated of wrongdoing on July 26 after the jury deliberated for five hours, Ms. Riddle said.

Mr. Pryor did not return a phone message yesterday seeking comment.