Shane Sandridge, 34, claims in [a lawsuit] that criminology professor Jennifer Gossett began making "romantic and/or sexual advances" shortly after he started the doctoral program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2001.

Gossett, who has written several articles about consensual relationships between faculty and students, heads Sandridge's dissertation committee.

In the suit, Sandridge accuses Gossett of inviting him to attend singles events with her, talking to him about her sexual relationships and problems, and trying to engage him in discussions about pornography. [The verb "accuse" doesn't seem right here. I accuse you of inviting me to singles events!]

After Sandridge told Gossett, 38, he was not interested in a romantic relationship, "Gossett actively and covertly began placing roadblocks to divert Sandridge's progress in securing his dissertation," the lawsuit alleges. [The link in this paragraph no longer works. Thanks, Tim, for telling me about that. Here's another, similar account.]

Sandridge claims in the suit he was asked to "pointlessly pursue avenues of research" that were not productive in completing his dissertation, among other issues. [Um, why not refuse to go down pointless avenues?]

Sandridge sued the school, Gossett and others this week in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh, seeking unspecified damages. He also wants a judge to order the university to change his dissertation committee. [Daddy, make bad lady go away!]