Tiny Cameras Found in Backpack in Freundel’s Office

By Cody Boteler
The Towerlight
October 24, 2014

http://www.thetowerlight.com/2014/10/tiny-cameras-found-in-backpack-in-freundels-office/

Police searching the Towson University office of professor Barry Freundel found a backpack that was filled with tiny cameras that were hidden in common objects, including a box of tissues and a clock, according to The Washington Post.

Additionally, police, who filed for a search warrant in Maryland, found flash drives and memory cards, as well as a hand-written list of names and a naked picture of a woman.

Freundel is accused of placing a hidden camera in a ritual bath at his Kesher Israel synagogue in Washington, D.C. His office was located in the College of Liberal Arts.

Since his arrest, Freundel has been suspended from Towson as well as his synagogue.

Director of University Communications Ray Feldmann said there is “absolutely” no evidence at this time that suggests a crime was committed on Towson’s campus.

Director of Media Relations for the University Gay Pinder told The Post that there is no information that indicates any of the items found in the search involve Towson students.

Previously, at least one student said she went on a tour of his synagogue and was asked to use the ritual bath, known as the mikvah. She declined to use the bath.

However, the court charging documents against Freundel say that he had recordings of at least six women from the mikvah. He is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 12 for a status hearing.

On Wednesday, the University announced that it was launching an investigation into Freundel to see if he violated any Title IX protocols.

Some of Freundel’s former students received an email that day that stated, ”Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) broadly prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program. Under Title IX guidelines, sexual misconduct is considered to be behavior that creates an impermissible hostile environment if it is ‘sufficiently serious that it interferes with or limits a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the school’s program.’”

Anyone who may have been impacted by this case is encouraged to contact the Counseling Center at 410-704-2512 or Turnaround Inc., which specializes in giving confidential help to victims and survivors of sexual assault at 443-279-0379.