A Washtenaw County jury reached a verdict Thursday in the sexual harassment lawsuit between the University and former Music student Maureen Johnson and ordered the University to pay Johnson $250,000.

The case was the first sexual harassment allegation stemming from a higher educational facility in Michigan to ever go to court, said Miranda Massie, Johnson's attorney. Massie added that she would have felt victorious even if they had not legally won the historical lawsuit.

Massie said she personally felt "delighted, overjoyed, elated" because "it's a tremendous step forward to women. It will send a signal to universities in Michigan and beyond that they can't ignore sexual harassment ... at the same, time it sends a signal to women who are being sexually harassed that they can win justice if they stand and fight."

Under the jury's orders, Johnson will also receive money for court costs and fees. Massie said she expects the verdict's price tag for the University to run around $500,000.

University spokeswoman Julie Peterson said she found the jury's decision disappointing. She also said the officials in the Office of the General Counsel plan to appeal the judgment sometime in the near future because the University does not feel the verdict was warranted.

"This is really a tough one because sexual harassment is something that the University takes very seriously, and we want to address it properly," Peterson said. "In this particular instance, we believe the University handled it correctly."

The sexual assault allegations against then-visiting Music Prof. Pier Calabria surfaced in 1997, when Johnson played the oboe in the University Philharmonia Orchestra directed by Calabria. Johnson has stated repeatedly that the professor made crude or inappropriate comments almost every day.

Johnson said she confronted Calabria about his behavior and was promptly demoted from her high-ranking position within the orchestra. She then took the complaint to other School of Music officials, who she said did not handle the allegations properly. She withdrew from the University in Winter 1998.

Peterson said administrators took many steps to resolve the problem, including an offer of additional financial aid so Johnson could continue her education and the dismissal of Calabria from his position, among other things.

"The University acted immediately to stop the behavior that was causing her problems," Peterson said. "Ultimately, the faculty member who was involved was asked to leave as a direct result of this complaint."

Johnson said the University's approach in dismissing Calabria offended and insulted her.

"They didn't fire him until I hired a lawyer and really they didn't fire him - they bought out his contract," Johnson said. "I think it's disgusting that this man got a year paid vacation for what he did to me and other students."

Massie said she feels an appeal is inappropriate. "What the University should be doing after all this time, instead of talking about appealing, is telling Maureen Johnson that they are sorry. They absolutely have not," Massie said.

Peterson said while Johnson's allegations are troubling, she believes its reputation in standing against sexual harassment precedes the verdict and does not feel the negative verdict or its appeal will hurt the University.

"We have been very vocal in our expression of intolerance against sexual harassment," she said. "We have said over and over again in many forums that we believe sexual harassment cannot be tolerated. We want very much to have those concerns voiced and dealt with."

Because the University hires so many faculty and staff members each year, Peterson said it is not immune to sexual harassment problems.

"The University is a large institution. There are going to be times when employees of the University engage in behavior that is inappropriate. There are situations that are going to happen," she said.

Johnson said the possibility of an appeal does not concern her, adding that she feels "vindicated."

"It's been a very long battle for over four years," she said. "Everyone is entitled to an equal education, and I worked very hard to get to the (University) and they took that away from me."

Johnson said she feels her lawsuit is beneficial to other students and will prevent future cases.

"I knew that this predator was going to go on to harass other people if I didn't do something about it. Somebody had to stand up and fight, I didn't want him to be able to harass anybody else.