RWU Prof Sues School, Union [UPDATED]

Update, March 11, 2:40 pm —

Roger Williams University Media Relations Manager Lynda Curtis released the following statement this afternoon:

Roger Williams University is aware of the news release issued today regarding Professor Sharon DeLucca. Because this relates to both pending litigation as well as in-progress arbitration matters governed by the University’s contract with the RWU Faculty Association, we will abide by our policy of handling the matter through the established legal processes rather than sharing details publicly.

Original post, March 11, 12:35 pm —

A senior professor at Roger Williams University has filed a lawsuit seeking $1.1 million in damages, claiming she did the work of a department chair but was not paid for it and faced retaliation from the university.

Sahron DeLucca, a professor in the university's graphics design department, is suing the National Education Association of Rhode Island and the Roger Williams University Faculty Association for what she described as "ineffective representation" in a statement released Monday.

"I believe that I am a David fighting two Goliaths," DeLucca said in the statement. "It takes courage to fight for what's right."

NEARI representatives "never adequately investigated her allegations" against the university, and "berated her" when they considered her grievance over back pay, DeLucca alleged.

DeLucca has a second grievance against RWU for what she calls "retaliaton," alleging that someone from the university sent her black lilies [known as "funeral flowers"] while she was in the hospital for undisclosed treatment.