Volume 108 Issue 16

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AWA R D-W INNING CENTR A LR ECOR DER .COM Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Central Connecticut State University

Volume 108 No. 16

CCSU Settles Gender Discrimination Lawsuit justin muszynski the Recorder

kenny baRto i the RecoRDeR

Freshman forward Danielle Davis grabs a rebound during the Blue Devils’ 51-49 victory over FDU on Saturday. Story on page 8.

CCSU has settled a lawsuit in which they, along with President Jack Miller, were accused of gender discrimination. Marsha Bednarski, Rathika Rajaravivarma and Barbara Nicholson were the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. They accused the university and Miller of denying them tenure or promotions based on their gender. Rajaravivarma also claimed her race came into play as well. The plaintiffs also alleged that CCSU did not properly retain files that the American Association of University Professors union asked them to. The files that were to be preserved were in regards to all the 2005-2006 promotion and tenure information. The preliminary report, written by Judge Warren Eginton, claims that CCSU did not follow proper protocol in this matter. “Despite their ability to control the preservation of documents, defendants failed to place a litigation hold over the portfolios or to instruct applicants to preserve the documents for potential litigation,”

the preliminary report states. “As a result, the portfolios were destroyed, lost or altered. Defendants’ conduct constitutes gross negligence or at least negligence.” Associate Vice President of Marketing & Communications Mark McLaughlin was able to confirm that the state Board of Regents did aprove the decision to settle in this particular lawsuit. Bednarski and Nicholson claimed that they were unreasonably denied promotion in the academic year 2005-2006 from associate professor to full professor. President Miller denied both of their applications despite the Department Evaluation Committee, Dean Susan Pease and the Promotion and Tenure Committee recommending the plaintiffs. Miller gave several reasons for his decision including Nicholson’s “student evaluations to be average” and her “teaching to be adequate but not very strong.” He also cited multiple reasons for Bednarski’s request being declined including “her teaching to be average at best” and “teaching evaluations that showed no evidence of excellence.” Rajaravivarma, who applied for LAWSUIT| conT. on 3

Clubs Face Probation For Financial Negligence kassonDRa gRanata the Recorder

Clubs can now be placed on probation and have their accounts frozen by the Student Government Association if they violate any passed rules. Treasurer Nick Alaimo recommended a bylaw change on Wednesday that enabled the finance committee to discipline clubs if they were to break the rules, such as spending more money than they were allocated. “We just want to make sure that the club are on the right paths,” said Alaimo. “I think it is a fair way to go about this process, and we will be more responsible with the audits in the future and how to penalize clubs.” If a club were to be put on probation, the senate would keep a “watchful eye” on the clubs and be able to sit with them and discuss their mistakes, according to Alaimo. If they were to make a mistake again while being monitored, their account will be frozen for the remainder of the fiscal year. The club will also be placed on probation for the following fiscal year. Senator Jeremy Truex said that

this change needed to be looked at a little more carefully rather than just being passed. He said that the word probation seemed like the wrong one. “It’s a bylaw change,” said Truex. “The way that it is written, it can potentially destroy clubs. We should do something to punish clubs, but freezing a club’s account would be absolutely ridiculous.” Senator Chris Marcelli said that as harsh as the word “probation” may seem, it is to benefit the clubs. “We are really just monitoring them,” said Marcelli, who had written the bylaw change. “It’s positive because we are helping them and giving them advice. It’s not as harsh as it may seem.” Senator Shelby Dattilo said in opposition that she understands putting clubs on probation, but this might not be the best way to handle it. “If we are willing to change our bylaws we should look at the reasons why they are infringing rather than just change the rules,” said Dattilo. “All this would do is discourage them, and it will ruin them, and clubs would die off.” The amendment passed with 19 yes votes and seven no votes. Micaela Rafferty, freshman and

member of the CCSU Dance Team, said that this new change sounds like a “death sentence.” “When we were trying to get to Florida, we were all trying so hard to fundraise to be able to get money, we eventually did,” said Rafferty. “I think it is ridiculous how many rules and steps we have gone through to get money, it’s almost impossible. I know it’s money, but I can’t imagine what they would do next, it is like we aren’t adults. They might as well cancel our clubs if we don’t follow their rules. They make it seem like we would be considered criminals.” AJ Gemmell, sophomore and member of the CCSU hockey team said that he finds this as a room for improvement for both groups. “I think in the current economic times that we are in, it is a smart idea to keep track of people and their clubs,” said Gemmell. “I hope it is used in a good way to see what clubs are overspending or what clubs are not getting what they need. I know there are clubs out there strictly funded on SGA and a lot of this should be used to see what people can do better and what the SGA can do better itself. Responsibility really falls on both sides of the spectrum.”

Nick Alaimo, SGA Treasurer

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