Man says Ghomeshi fondled him at YorkU in early '90s

A male student who worked for Jian Ghomeshi during the former CBC broadcaster's student days at York University has become the third person to put their name to public accusations of sexual assault. Though Ghomeshi has been met in the past week with an escalating tally of violent sexual assault accusations against women, Jim Hounslow, who currently works at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, is the only male to have come forward.

Hounslow told the Toronto Star that he worked under Ghomeshi when he was president of the York Federation of Students in the 1990-1991 school year. Hounslow alleges that he and Ghomeshi were waiting for an elevator when, without warning, Ghomeshi "grabbed my genitals and fondled them." Hounslow says he then twisted Ghomeshi's arm against his back and warned him never to do that again. The next day, he says, Ghomeshi claimed it had all been a joke and accused Hounslow of being "macho" and "violent".

Hounslow says he and his fellow students viewed Ghomeshi as a "predator", and the attack was part of a pattern of behaviour against fellow students; he added he was not aware of any other male victims. Word also surfaced earlier this week that around the same time, Ghomeshi had been the subject of warnings to female students at York University. Young women living in residence at that time were warned to stay away from Ghomeshi in places like co-ed washrooms, stairwells, or at house parties.

Photo by Ariane Colenbrander on Flickr.

by Natalia Manzocco via blogTO