Eastern University Administrators Accused Of Civil Rights Violations

RADNOR, PA—A former Eastern University professor filed a federal lawsuit, accusing university administrators of not renewing her contract after she asked them to stop making racist and sexist comments.

Anne Whitney Collins of Malvern claimed Dr. Kenton Sparks, provost and vice president, did not renew her contract after she complained about race discrimination and sexist behavior in the workplace.
Collins said that Al Socci, a dean of the College of Business, and Tod Gilmore, chair of the undergraduate business program, made racist comments, intensifying after the murder of George Floyd.

Floyd, a Black man, was killed by police in Minneapolis in May 2020. The videotaped death, caused by an officer kneeling on his neck, sparked outrage across the nation.

One of the officers, Derek Chauvin, was convicted of murder. Three other officers were convicted of violating Floyd's civil rights.

Collins is seeking $150,000 in damages for causing emotional harm due to losing her position after she reported the two for allegedly espousing white supremacist beliefs and racist ideologies.

She also claims she suffered economic losses and employment benefits.

Collins said in the complaint that 45 percent of Eastern's student body are persons of color.

Response

Eastern University responded on its website that "a similar complaint was filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and was dismissed due to no findings and no probable cause to support the claims.

Eastern University is committed to the belief that diversity and inclusiveness are essential in establishing a prosperous and productive educational community for students, faculty, and staff.
As an equal-opportunity employer, Eastern is committed to equal and fair treatment of all employees and students."

Complaint

According to the lawsuit filed by Philadelphia attorneys, Jennifer Myers Chalal and Alan Epstein:

• Socci and Gilmore made it seem as if an investigation of Collins' complaints would occur, but a thorough investigation did not occur.
• Collins said she was asked to resign but refused.
• In August 2021 she was released from her administrative roles as chair of the graduate business department and special assistant to the dean.
• She said she was assigned to classes that were intended to be discontinued, noting all but one were virtual.
• Collins said Sparks referred to her as an “inflammatory presence on campus.”
• The college did not renew her faculty covenant for the 2022-23 school year.