Despite its previous reluctance to comment on the case "in order to protect the victim," the department made an announcement, saying that all of its staff regretted the decision of the College of Social Sciences, and quoted parts of the investigative report.
"How could any parent believe that the university has been unbiased in the case and had the best interests of the students at heart?" the department said in its announcement.
Lee remarked earlier that the department's announcement was "regrettable ... because it improperly stained the department's reputation as well as mine."
"The department should communicate with the university following administrative proceedings instead of releasing announcements to the media," he added.
The department said they decided eventually to disclose information about the case in order to "let public opinion decide," and to "prevent the wolf from approaching other sheep elsewhere."
"In addition, we hope justice will be done by the university; otherwise the victim will have to relive her unpleasant experiences if she has no option but to seek redress in court, " Ben said.
"On the other hand, indulging Lee's transgressions by allowing him to transfer to another campus to harass students there would indeed be to ruin the reputation of the department and the [university]."
Ben said that Lee had applied for a teaching job at another university after his victim had made an official complaint to the university.
That university was not aware of Lee's past misdemeanors, since his case was kept secret until then by the relevant authorities.
"The university had basically approved his application and he would have been made dean of one of the university's departments," Hsu said.
The investigative report has recommended Lee receive psychological counseling.
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