Steven Lewis Fired, Barred From Campus

Art instructor Steven Lewis has been fired and barred from Exeter’s campus after admitting to sexual misconduct with a student in the 1980s.

Upon the conclusion of a police investigation, the news was revealed to the faculty during an impromptu meeting yesterday at 1 p.m. in the Elting Room. Later that afternoon, Principal Lisa MacFarlane sent an email to alumni, students, faculty and staff announcing Lewis’ termination.

Regarding the faculty meeting, English instructor Becky Moore said that she “reacted to the announcements … with a combination of sorrow for all those involved.”

“I believe the administration has done their very best to respect the privacy of the students concerned and to react in a fair way that focuses on the well-being of current and past students.”

An allegation against Lewis was brought forward following the news of former instructor of history Rick Schubart’s sexual misconduct with two students in the 1970s and 1980s. Lewis admitted to sexual encounters with a student when an investigation was opened. There are no other known victims of sexual misconduct involving Lewis, and Lewis could not be contacted before The Exonian’s printing deadline on Wednesday night.

Other former faculty members are currently under investigation by the Exeter Police Department for sexual misconduct charges, the results of which have not been finalized. The Exeter Police Department has not released any further details concerning Lewis’ misconduct. The police plan to issue a press release on the Lewis case in the near future.

Lewis began teaching at the Academy in 1983 and during that time worked on his personal professional career in photography, served as an art department head and was an affiliate in Amen Hall. His photography has been published in Oprah Magazine, Wired, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times.

While multiple allegations of sexual misconduct at Exeter have emerged in recent weeks, this is the only to involve a current faculty member. The experience was jarring for many community members, and for students acquainted with Lewis in particular.  A dorm meeting to address the issue was held on Wednesday night in Amen.

Upper Antigone Clark, who lives in Amen, said she was shocked to hear the news. She described a sense of horror and betrayal. “I felt comfortable around him and trusted him. To know that someone who was given this responsibility abused it … is terrifying,” she said.

Clark said that while troubled by the news related to Schubart, “It’s so much different to know the person that did this. It’s so different to have placed your trust in someone and then find out that they have misused it.”

Lower Brennan Simon, who is currently enrolled in one of Lewis’ classes, said that while Lewis wasn’t in class “for the last week and a half … I didn’t expect it to be for that reason. I am really surprised by the news.”

During the most recent investigation, Lewis did not hold any of his art classes, and Dean of Faculty Ethan Shapiro has worked with the art department to ensure that Lewis’ classes are covered.

Upper Sarah Michaels, another student in Amen, said that it was difficult to know how to react. She said that Lewis “was one of my favorite faculty members on campus and I’m having a really hard time processing what’s going on.”

Other students noted the effect his departure would have on Exeter. “I feel as though this might significantly affect the community not only policy wise, but also in terms of publicity and potentially even the way we view Exeter and the teachers here as this is the second incident,” prep Grace Huang said.

However, math instructor Joe Wolfson found no difference between this case and the case regarding Schubart. He said that Lewis’ status as a current faculty member doesn’t change anything “other than for students who are currently in his classes. I had also worked with [Schubart] for close to 30 years, and that revelation was not more or less sad [and] surprising.”

President of the Trustees Eunice Panetta spoke on behalf of the board of trustees, many members of which have been on campus this week. She described the primary sentiment of the board as one of sadness  “[O]ur hearts go out first to the victims who have come forward. It pains us to think of any Exonian coming to any harm while a student here,” she said.

Wolfson said it was difficult and painful to hear of two faculty members “and colleagues with whom I’ve worked for close to 30 years” who were involved in sexual misconduct.

While all current faculty members interviewed expressed sorrow when speaking about the news, they also expressed gratitude for the school’s appropriate response and swift communication with community members.

Moore noted a sense of appreciation that the faculty were given “the information in a meeting that allowed for comments and questions.” She added that she felt informed to the greatest “degree possible for the privacy and well being of all involved.”

Biology instructor Townley Chisholm felt that the school had handled the case well, keeping the community informed while respecting the privacy of those involved. “I believe the administration has done their very best to respect the privacy of the students concerned and to react in a fair way that focuses on the well-being of current and past students. I...am glad for the wisdom and care that have characterized that handling,” he said. Faculty sentiments seemed in contrast to reactions to the Schubart case, during which some community members speculated that the Academy had been slow to respond to initial allegations in 2011 and 2015.

Panetta expressed confidence in MacFarlane and urged the Exeter community to learn from these incidents.“This is a challenging time for Exeter, a time of hard reckonings, but we also have a chance now to try to get right with past wrongs. The Trustees have great faith in Principal MacFarlane’s leadership and in the future of our school,” she said.

MacFarlane stressed the importance she places on student safety and on handling the current situation “in a very clear and transparent way, fairly and accurately.” She noted that there are many adults on this campus who students can turn to with questions and conerns.

“I wanted to emphasize what [students] already know: that Exeter is a strong community where we care deeply for another and can weather hard times together with grace and grit,” she said.