CU Employee On Leave For Phone Sex Business, Soft Core Videos « CBS Denver
A veteran University of Colorado Denver administrator is under investigation and has been placed on paid administrative leave for apparently operating a phone sex business at the same time she has been getting paid by the university.
“The University of Colorado Denver takes this allegation very seriously,” said CU Denver Vice Chancellor of Communications Leanna Clark after learning about the phone sex business from CBS4. She said the University “has initiated a thorough internal investigation.”
The university began its probe this week after learning a CBS4 investigation would air into the moonlighting activities of Resa Cooper-Morning, the cultural diversity coordinator with UCD’s Ethnic Studies department.
Cooper-Morning, 54, declined to speak in person, by phone or via email to CBS4 about her website and her outside employment. Cooper-Morning has worked for the university since 1992 and is currently paid $68,000 annually.
State records obtained by CBS4 show that in 2003 the CU administrator established a business which included a website “msresa.com.” The site features numerous nude, provocative photos of the CU administrator and allows users to purchase memberships that allow them to view dozens of low budget, soft core videos starring Cooper-Morning. One is entitled “Erotica in Pink,” another “Ride Her Pony!” while a 2013 offering is called “Vanilla Cocoa Butter Oil.” The short videos generally show Cooper-Morning in provocative poses and taking her clothes off.
It does not appear operating the website violates any university or state policies.
“Under Colorado state statute, no employer has the right to restrict an employee’s legal, off-work activities,” Clark said.
The larger concern for CU administrators is that the website contains a phone sex component which offers users the ability to talk dirty with Cooper-Morning for $1.49 a minute about “fantasies … guided masturbation” and as the site promotes “phone sex that will rock every part of your body!.”
“Maybe kiss my brown thighs,” suggests her phone sex site. The site says Cooper-Morning can be reached for phone sex Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until late at night. Her university work hours are listed as 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The prospect that the CU administrator has been engaging in paid phone sex at the same time she is being paid to work by taxpayers has administrators concerned.
“It’s very important to us that our employees uphold the values of our organization while they are in the workplace,” Clark said.
According to the woman’s daughter-in-law, there is good reason to be concerned.
“She does it while she is working at CU Denver,” said Blair Cooper, the administrator’s daughter-in-law.
Blair Cooper told CBS4 “she is taking calls at work. I’ve been in her office and she’s said, ‘Oh, let me be right back I have a phone call.’ She takes them very discreetly, shuts her door takes phone sex calls on CU of Denver’s pay.”
Blair Cooper conceded she is enmeshed in a messy and heated family spat with her mother-in-law and that she would like to see her fired.
“As a taxpayer I think this is wrong that she is doing this on our dollar,” said Blair Cooper.
In 2008, the University of Colorado honored Cooper-Morning for her service to her community and to CU.
“Her engaged and respectful participation in department dialogue touches the intellect and spirit of everyone involved,” wrote Donna Langston, ethnic studies department chair.
A neighbor of Cooper-Morning’s, who asked not to be identified, told CBS4 she was unaware of Cooper-Morning’s outside employment.
“I never knew but I never went looking either,” said the neighbor. “A second job should be a second job … it shouldn’t overlap with the first job.”
CU Denver declined to answer additional questions declaring it “a confidential personnel matter,” but said the internal investigation should take three to four weeks.
On Thursday, hours before the CBS4 investigation was scheduled to air, a change was made to Cooper-Morning’s phone sex website. The hours she could be reached for sexual conversations were altered to reflect she was only available for phone sex weekdays after 3 p.m., after she leaves her job at the university
