BBC News | WALES | Professor resigns after 'naughty' jokes

A professor has resigned from his �50,000 a year job at the University of Wales, Swansea, after being criticised for telling sexy jokes at a Christmas party.

Professor Laurence Goldstein, 53, stepped in at the last minute to compere the entertainment at the function last year.

But female colleagues complained about his "mildly sexual" jokes, which he used to fill in time between acts.

University chiefs launched an inquiry into the complaints and the professor was faced with being brought before a disciplinary committee.

Swansea University
University chiefs were investigating the complaints

Professor Goldstein stepped down from his position as head of the philosophy department at the university while the investigations were underway.

But - eight months later - the college has announced that he decided to resign instead.

Professor Goldstein has insisted his jokes were not offensive.

After the investigation was announced Professor Goldstein said he had decided to tell a couple of jokes but a few in the audience thought these were not appropriate for a Christmas party.

Professor Goldstein also maintained the sexual overtones in the jokes were slight and of the sort which might be heard on television.

An expert in linguistic competence, Professor Goldstein arrived at the university last August after working in Hong Kong and Cape Town.


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