Tufts University has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to prevent the reinstatement of Theodore Simpson, a theater lecturer and set designer who was dismissed last year following an incident in which he allegedly engaged in a late-night sexual encounter in his university office. The encounter reportedly took place on March 25, 2025, at Jackson Hall, after Simpson and a woman, who is not affiliated with the university, had dinner together. According to court documents, a student working in an adjacent classroom recorded audio of the sounds coming from Simpson’s office and described feeling "horrified" by what was heard.

Simpson, who has served as head of design at Tufts since 2002 and has an extensive background in regional theater and Broadway, was terminated in July for violating the university’s sexual misconduct policy. The university alleges that Simpson was not forthcoming during the investigation, initially attributing the noise to a film titled "Betty Blue," a claim later disproven by investigators. Additionally, the university’s complaint asserts that Simpson made unfounded accusations against the investigation team and students in an effort to undermine the inquiry.

Following Simpson’s dismissal, an arbitrator ordered his reinstatement with full seniority and a written reprimand but did not grant back pay or benefits. Tufts challenges this decision, arguing that the reinstatement is inappropriate because the university’s sexual misconduct policy is intended to protect students and staff from unwanted exposure to sexual behavior in academic settings. The university maintains that returning Simpson to a position requiring direct contact with students and colleagues poses safety concerns, especially given what they describe as his lack of remorse for the conduct that violated policy.

The lawsuit, filed against SEIU Local 509—the faculty union representing Simpson and other instructors—requests judicial intervention to block the reinstatement. The union has stated that while it takes student safety concerns seriously, its role is to ensure fair representation and uphold contractual rights of faculty members.

A student plaintiff has also reportedly filed a separate federal lawsuit opposing Simpson’s reinstatement, citing fears about attending classes led by him following the incident. Tufts declined to comment further due to ongoing litigation, and Simpson did not respond to requests for comment. The legal proceedings are currently underway in the US District Court in Boston.