Diversity Program at U. Michigan Accused of Having Toxic Work Environment
“There were lies about my performance which relates directly to white supremacy culture at ADVANCE”
Among other problems, there were apparently multiple accusations of microaggressions. Oh my.
The College Fix reports:
Campus diversity program accused of having toxic environment
University of Michigan’s ADVANCE program has been hit with allegations of discrimination, with former employees accusing its leadership of allowing microaggressions and a toxic environment to fester, among other claims.
The program employs about a dozen people and is focused on faculty recruitment, retention, climate and leadership development as it works “to address necessary institutional changes to support the needs of a diverse faculty in all fields,” its website reads.
An investigative piece by The Michigan Daily, the school’s student-run newspaper, found 12 alleged instances of discrimination and a hostile work environment spanning eight years from 2012 to 2020.
Among the allegations was that women of color were told their writing was not eloquent or effective and that microaggressions were common, according to the March 16 report.
“There were lies about my performance which relates directly to white supremacy culture at ADVANCE,” said Maria Ozor Commer, a former program employee and a central source in the Daily’s investigation.
ADVANCE employees declined to comment to The College Fix and instead directed inquiries to campus spokesman Rick Fitzgerald.
“The ADVANCE program, like most programs on our campus, is continuously looking for ways to improve its operations in a manner that respects diversity, equity and inclusion,” he wrote to The College Fix in an email.
Fitzgerald did not answer any of The Fix’s specific questions, such as whether or not the university administration or the ADVANCE leadership team had a position on the truth of any particular allegations.
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Comments
How delightful – either the university has to admit that it’s racist, or it has to admit that not all accusations of racism are substantiated.
Nice to see them hoist by their own kafkatrap.
When success is entirely subjective, your best will never be enough.
Big surprise…you hire a bunch of people that think the boogeyman is racist and they find the racist boogeyman.
Who could have predicted this??
“Among the allegations was that women of color were told their writing was not eloquent or effective …”
Well, maybe their writing was neither eloquent nor effective.
I can imagine it was bad. But it’s a microaggression to tell them. Fine, let them produce stumbling, ineffective writing for the purposes of the ADVANCE program. It will be a good reminder for everyone what they’re really advocating for the direction of education at Michigan.
Heh.
A couple weeks ago, one of LI’s article pages got lavishly larded with purple ads from the SEIU in favor of the $15 minimum wage. (Absolutely every ad on the page was from SEIU.)
One near the top guilt-tripped us about how SEIU members risk the Chinese Death Kooties, teaching our children for us every day. The one at the bottom said, “We do our jobs. Congress needs to do thiers.” [sic]
Now there’s a guy worth his $15. Just loved, loved, loved that message.
So, all educational institutions risk law suits or “greenmail” if they dare to grade and/or give a critical review of what they judge to be substandard work. Stupid.
Well, the simple response is have teachers/supervisors refuse to explain AND to publicly declare any complaining student/employee to be a racist/bigot FIRST.
Makes for crappy education/workplace but should be interesting and avoids bankruptcy.
An employee who has a hostile work environment grievance is one that is easily won in court. Racial bias of any sort is unacceptable and illegal. I am curious though that through this whole white privilege campaign the ACLU hasn’t said a word. Racist much?
It’s guaranteed they’re totally confused after 30 minutes of Wheel of Fortune.