The director of FMUP, Altamiro da Costa Pereira, has ordered the immediate and preventive suspension of a faculty member following allegations of harassment on social media. The institution plans to promptly initiate necessary procedures to fully investigate the matter and decide on the professor’s future with the university.
In a written response, the accused professor asserted, “I have never harassed anyone personally or through digital means.” He further stressed, “I would like to clarify unequivocally that I have never harassed anyone, personally or digitally. This is a case of identity theft. I have never sent any messages and will file a report with the appropriate authorities.”
A group of female students from the University of Porto (U.Porto) claims they are being harassed and stalked online by a professor from FMUP, having filed a complaint with the university’s administration citing “harassment on social media.”
Official sources from the university’s administration confirmed that a legal complaint against the professor was filed on Friday, the 24th.
The group of U.Porto students reported that the FMUP professor follows them on social media, likes private photos, interacts with video stories, and sends unwelcome messages.
“The scope of this issue goes beyond FMUP. Students from other faculties report similar incidents. In our case, we are aged between 17 and 22, and after comparison, we found identical messages were sent to six of our colleagues on the same day. Some of us initially thought it was a professional network based on the content. However, when he follows, likes, views stories, sends hearts, and claims to be a surgeon and professor, it feels serious and unwelcome,” they stated.
Given the severity of these allegations, the FMUP director has decided to suspend the implicated faculty member immediately.
The FMUP clarified that until now, its directors, the department where the faculty member works, his direct superior, nor the FMUP Students’ Association, had received any formal complaints or informal information regarding this professor’s actions.
FMUP assures that all reports of inappropriate conduct are handled with utmost seriousness and rigor, regardless of how they come to the institution’s attention.
“FMUP reiterates its total condemnation of any form of harassment, discrimination, intimidation, retaliation, physical violence, or moral coercion, in line with the Code of Conduct of the University of Porto and the principles that govern academic life. The Faculty expresses solidarity and support to all persons affected by such behaviors, particularly the complainants, and guarantees institutional support during the investigation,” it stated.
A university administration source explained that, per standard procedure with such allegations, the complaint is forwarded to the Faculty’s director, who holds disciplinary authority over its members. The case may lead to an “eventual inquiry.”
The students, wishing to remain anonymous owing to fears of retaliation from the U.Porto, the Medical Association, or the justice system, noted that the physician and professor supervises “various dissertations” and serves as the president of the Medical Association’s district branch in Braga.
“The physician and professor follow many women, and older women also report being digitally harassed and stalked. Through discussions in a group with over 200 women, we believe this behavior is repeated. Some identical messages are sent simultaneously, appearing inappropriate. After our discussions, we confirmed he does the same with other women and interacts with children’s photos by sending messages,” the students expressed.
