Vol 120 | Issue 3
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Publishing since 1913
Independent Student Newspaper of Sam Houston State University
SGA Pres. scolded senators for lack of attendance, pg. 3
Visit us on Facebook: “The Houstonian SHSU”
Men’s BB loses to SFA, pg. 4
INDEX Viewpoints ....... pg. 2 A&E ................... pg. 4 News .................. pg. 3 Sports................. pg. 5
New lawsuit alleges racial discrimination, retaliation STEPHEN GREEN Editor-in-Chief
Racial discrimination and retaliation are at the forefront of a lawsuit against Sam Houston State University, according to court documents filed in the U.S. Court in the Southern District of Texas on Jan. 18. Angel Lamb, an African American, is suing SHSU under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, alleging that the formerinterim director of the human resources (HR) department denied her a raise and promotion because of her race. David White, former-interim director of HR, took the position
in early 2009 when, the lawsuit Lamb alleges in the lawsuit. alleges, the racial discrimination Lamb currently works in the began. Lamb also claims in the department as an associate and lawsuit that has worked for she worked the university directly under “White and Bennett for 20 years, HR Associate according Director Cynthia targeted three black HR to court Bennett, after employees in an effort documents. receiving an to get them to quit The lawsuit unrelated also claims that promotion from and ‘cleanse’ the HR Lamb received a clerk’s position. department...” positive reviews “After White’s ---Lamb’s lawsuit on her job promotion, performance White and prior to her Bennett targeted and White’s three black HR employees in respective promotions. However, an effort to get them to quit and after her promotion she received a ‘cleanse’ the HR department,” poor review in February 2009.
“This poor review caused her to be denied for a raise, which the white employees at her level received,” the lawsuit claims. It says the same situation occurred again in June 2009, but everyone got a raise “except for three black employees.” In addition to racial discrimination, Lamb’s claim also states she was retaliated against for complaining about the issue to a supervisor. She filed an internal grievance about the promotion denial on April 21, 2010. She was then allegedly given a warning by Bennett for “‘releasing privileged information.’” “[Lamb] allegedly internally
identified the name of a newly hired employee, although there is no known policy regarding this issue,” the lawsuit claims. “This warning has since been used to further subjugate Lamb and ‘keep her in her place.’ The warning was held over Lamb’s head and she was frequently reminded that, ‘there is consideration of suspension without pay and it is currently under review.’” In addition, Lamb is suing for damages, punitive damages and costs related to the lawsuit. Neither the university nor its lawyers would comment on the lawsuit. Officials had not yet been made aware of the lawsuit at the time they were asked.
Martin makes milestone mark
KARMEN KING Viewpoints Editor
Jessica Gomez | The Houstonian
RACKING UP RECORDS. Britni Martin (10) became just the 12th player to score 1,000 points in a Bearkat uniform, edging out current head coach Brenda Nichols on the career points list.
Dedication. Leadership. Intensity. Record breaking. These are just a few of the words that can be used to describe junior forward Britni Martin. Last week Martin added her name to the Sam Houston State University record books. Martin became just the 12th player to score 1,000 points in a Bearkat uniform, edging out current head coach Brenda Nichols on the career points list. “It was exciting,” Martin said. “I didn’t even know I was close to hitting 1,000.” Coach Nichols joked about Martin joining her on the list. “I just tell her I did it in two years, it took her three,” Nichols said. Martin had a few things to remind her coach. “That was back in the day,” Martin said. “Plus we played different positions so that should be taken into account. She was right under the basket and could get the rebound and put it right back up.” Family members describe her brother, Jeremy, as Martin’s mentor. “I’m just extremely proud of her,” Jeremy said. “It’s good to see all the hard work that she’s been putting in over the years pay off and to get some recognition from it.” The Conroe native joined SHSU in the 2008-2009 season and lit up the Southland Conference almost immediately. Martin was
the first freshman to average in double figures scoring since Shayla Teague, second on the career scoring leaders list, did it in 1995. She was the fifth freshman to have a double digit scoring average and was ranked third in the Southland in three point baskets (55). As a freshman, Martin was a two-sport athlete participating in soccer as well as basketball. Due to a knee injury, she had to red-shirt the 2009-2010 season, but when she came back last season she hadn’t missed a beat. Last season, Martin was named SHSU Co-Most Valuable Player along with Sequeena Thomas. The chemistry between the two women is part of what makes the team so successful many say. “She’s always a hard worker she works hard everyday so it’s no different in the game,” Thomas said. “We can always look to her to hustle and get points and get boards.” Athletic Director Bobby Williams believes Martin is an exemplary leader on and off the court. “She’s always upbeat,” Williams said. “When I walk around and I see her and I’m maybe a little down, as a leader she’ll lift you up. At her age that’s a quality of leadership that’s rare.” Martin also praises Thomas. “I love it! I love playing with Q. I know exactly where she’s going to be and when she wants the ball,” Martin said. “I know it, I love it, it makes my job easy.” Selfless is a good word to describe Martin’s play on the court.
She is ranked 11th amongst SHSU Career Assist Leaders, not far behind teammate Khamra Echols, with 254 assists in 75 games, averaging 3.4 per game. Martin is known for her accuracy from well behind the arc. Her sophomore year, she hit 89 shots from downtown for an average of 35.5 percent. Smart opponents would do well not to foul Martin as her career free throw totals 77.9 percent, but they’re not always successful. “She loves to shoot the 3, but Britni will throw her body everywhere,” Nichols said. “She’s very good at taking them in and drawing the fouls and going to the line.” Not only does Martin excel on the court but in the classroom as well. As a freshman she was named to the Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll. Her sophomore year she earned first team Academic All-Southland honors with a 3.60 GPA as a kinesiology major. This year she has been nominated for Academic All-America honors. Martin’s goals for the rest of her colligate career is to reach the top five all-time scorers in SHSU history. With an average of 15.1 points per game this season, and her senior season left next year, Martin may have set her sights too low. “I asked her mom the other day if [Martin] had a chance to go pro if she would,” cousin Elizabeth Dean said. “Her mom said if she was offered she would. Which we’re hoping she does.”
Harassment lawsuit allowed to proceed MOLLY WADDELL Associate News Editor
A federal lawsuit filed by two former Art Department faculty alleging that they were sexually harassed and retaliated against is proceeding to trial after parts of SHSU’s motion to dismiss were denied. Plaintiffs Garry and Jasmyne Graybill, who were hired by Art Department chair Tony Shipp in 2008, allege that Shipp created a hostile working environment through sexual harassment. When the married couple complained to then Dean of Arts and Sciences
Jaime Hebert, they claim that Shipp retaliated by not giving promised merit pay increases and posting their jobs for others to apply. According to court documents, the motion to dismiss the Graybill’s complaint was recommended in part and denied in part, on Jan. 9. U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Malloy recommended that Sam Houston State University’s motion to dismiss the Graybill’s sexual harassment claims be granted, but the motion to dismiss the retaliation claim be denied. The sexual harassment suit was dropped because the Graybills
could not establish a case, on first examination, of a hostile work environment based on a sexual harassment. The Graybills did not show that SHSU was not following Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII says, “she belongs to a protected class, was subjected to unwelcome sexual harassment, the harassment was based on her sex, and that the harassment affected a term, condition, or privilege of her employment.” The University argued that the Graybill’s claims only speculate on the possibility that they were, “subject to unwelcome harassment on the basis of sex, or
that any such harassment affected the term, condition, or privilege of employment.” The University also argued that Shipp’s repeated social invitations outside of the office to the Graybills did not violate Title VII. “Shipp’s invitations alone do not create a hostile work environment. Nor will an isolated comment give rise to a sexual harassment claim,” Malloy said in the court documents. “There are no allegations that the invitations and remarks were ‘physically threatening or humiliating,’” or to the degree in which the conduct interferes with the workers’ performance.
There was no factual support for the Graybill’s claim that Shipp’s repeated invitations and unwanted remarks affected any term or condition of employment, Malloy said. The retaliation claim that Shipp denied the Graybills a promised merit raise and opened their positions to other applicants because they reported his offensive behavior to SHSU were sufficiently alleged by the plaintiffs, Malloy said. The trial is set for fall 2012 at the Southern District of Texas U.S. district court.