In response to the Title IX Complaint filed against CMU Tech Professor Steven Gould, I am here to defend the man in question. Frankly I and many others in our program are appalled by the labels being thrown onto someone that we all have much admiration and respect for.
I met Chef Steve formally when I enrolled in his “Intro to Baking” class in Fall 2025, and the man emphasized from day one, really all lecture long, that the baking lab is meant to be a “safe space.” He spoke on the diversity in culinary backgrounds / kitchens and the beauty of the melting pot that is the food industry. He specifically noted the strong queer influence within the baking industry and made it clear- if that was going to be an issue with anyone, they might not be in the right place.
Our baking program is dominated by the queer community, as is often the case in this field. As a member of the queer community myself, I and many others take it to heart that Chef Steve has cultivated such an inviting environment for anyone who is willing to treat each other with dignity and respect. The man has a pride flag in his office and is a genuine ally to our community. He’s a truly kind and thoughtful man who cares deeply for all of his students and is willing to help with anything that can lead you towards individual success.
Understandably, many of us at CMU Tech are very upset by Chef Steve’s portrayal in the recent articles regarding the Title IX complaint. A writer at The Criterion even described the story to me as “very hard for me to believe.” I myself was not present during the time in which the alleged discriminatory misconduct took place, so I will not speak on the incident at hand. I am simply here to challenge this offensive attempt at character assassination against a very kind and inclusive man. We (LGBTQ+) as a community cannot continue to fall for this hyper-sensitive victim mentally that is icing out our own community members and meaningful allies. This makes it so challenging for us to be taken seriously by those who do not respect or align with our community. Frankly, I find it all incredibly disappointing. Chef Steve is a good man, and I believe justice will be served.
Sincerely, Izzy Barnes
