LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - An incoming dean of journalism at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln was cited in a report on a discrimination complaint for creating a “hostile environment” in her previous position at Central Michigan University.
Maria Marron, who is scheduled to take over as UNL’s journalism dean on June 1, was investigated following a complaint by Central Michigan assistant journalism professor Sara Kubik last year, the Lincoln Journal Star said (https://bit.ly/1hRpwkJ ).
The Central Michigan University Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity report says that as chair of the Central Michigan Journalism Department, Marron was accused of violating Kubik’s rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
The 12-page Central Michigan report, titled “Marron Disposition” and dated April 4, says Marron denied harassing or discriminating against Kubik. But it also says Marron referred to Kubik’s pregnancy as a “sticky wicket” for the department and that Marron acknowledged sharing Kubik’s family situation with other faculty members.
The report says Marron also acknowledged changing Kubik’s fall schedule without giving Kubik priority over another teacher with a lower ranking in scheduling her classes.
No discrimination was evident in Kubik’s reappointment as an assistant professor, the report says, because Kubik’s teaching, research and service accomplishments were properly considered.
Marron declined to comment Wednesday, saying through a UNL spokesman that she would love to speak to the media about the issue. “However, there is a procedural process involved, and I respect this process,” Marron said. “The matter in question is an as-yet unresolved internal personnel process at another university,” UNL spokesman Steve Smith said.
The director of the Central Michigan Office of Civil Rights, Katherine Lasher, declined to comment about the case and told The Associated Press that the office’s internal documents were confidential.
The Journal Star said an unsigned copy of the report was received by the newspaper through the mail. The newspaper shared the report with the AP. Kubik told the Journal Star that she didn’t send the report and didn’t know anyone in Nebraska.
UNL’s senior vice chancellor of academic affairs, Ellen Weissinger, was aware that “Marron had dealt with any number of complex personnel issues in her successful 12-year tenure as chair of the Department of Journalism at Central Michigan University,” Smith said. “Dr. Weissinger’s vetting process was lengthy and vigorous, and we continue to have confidence in Dr. Marron as she begins her tenure as UNL’s journalism dean,” he said.
Weissinger told her colleagues in an email that she had discussed the matter with Marron during the hiring process. Weissinger also said the allegations surfacing against Marron were taken from an incomplete set of confidential documents, Smith said.
The last of 12 pages in the report says the “facts do not suggest that Marron’s conduct arose to the level of prohibited conduct” regarding Kubik’s reappointment as an assistant professor.
But, the report continues, “the Office of Civil Rights and institutional Equity concludes that Marron did create an unwelcome and hostile environment within the Central Michigan University community.”
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Information from: Lincoln Journal Star, https://www.journalstar.com
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