The Incident
A senior director at CUNY is currently facing a lawsuit after a 34-year-old subordinate accused him of sexual assault and harassment. According to the court filing, Krafins Valcin—who serves as the senior director of academic collaboration technology—allegedly assaulted the woman while driving her home from an office happy hour in Manhattan on December 2, 2025.
The pair, who both reside in New Jersey, opted to carpool home following the work event. The woman alleges that once they reached the car, Valcin’s behavior took an immediate turn. The lawsuit details that Valcin allegedly made sexually explicit comments and repeatedly rubbed her thigh during the ride. When they reached the victim's car in Newark, she claims Valcin blocked her in to prevent her from leaving, opened her car door, and forced her hand onto his genitals. The lawsuit further alleges that Valcin then exposed himself to her.
The Aftermath
The victim reportedly filed a report with the Newark police, though the case was reportedly dropped due to a lack of video evidence. She later reached out to CUNY’s Title IX office in January 2026 after suffering from panic attacks. While the university issued a no-contact order in February, Valcin remains in his position. The accuser has since been working from home, citing significant trauma.
Her lawyer, Gerald Cohen, expressed frustration with CUNY’s response, stating that the university failed to reprimand Valcin and instead forced the victim to adjust her entire work environment to avoid her alleged attacker. In response, Valcin has denied the allegations of groping, and a CUNY spokesperson noted that they are committed to a safe environment but could not comment further on pending litigation.
Why it matters
It’s giving major accountability issues. This case raises serious questions about how universities handle internal allegations of harassment and whether existing Title IX protections are actually keeping employees safe. For you, it’s a heavy reminder to always know your HR rights—because even in a professional setting, the real tea is that safety should never be optional.
