Why did Bard College dismiss Paul de Man in 1950?

In December 1950, Bard College dismissed Paul de Man primarily due to the scandal surrounding his relationship with an undergraduate student, Patricia Kelley, whom he had impregnated and subsequently married in a bigamous union.

The college’s decision was further influenced by the enmity of the professor whom de Man had replaced; de Man had agreed to rent that professor's house but failed to pay rent until his wages were garnished. Despite the protests of his students, the administration terminated his employment, leading de Man to leave for Harvard University in 1951.1