Jodi Shaw takes steps to sue Smith College over hostile work environment
Following an incident where a student accused Smith College of racially biased behavior (a claim that was disproven), the college nevertheless proactively instituted a series of trainings - for staff of the college (not for professors, however) to learn about critical race theory and their own structural bias.
(From the article)
A 1993 graduate of the college, Shaw said that back in August 2018, she was told by a supervisor that giving a library orientation she’d prepared as a rap song could be thought of as “cultural appropriation,” and she was told she couldn’t present it. [Shaw reported that she had prepared the program for months and it was supposed to be given in front of an audience of 600].
After that incident, Shaw said she moved on from the library position to the one at Residence Life.
“In my new position, I was told on multiple occasions that discussing my personal thoughts and feelings about my skin color is a requirement of my job,” Shaw wrote. “I endured racially hostile comments, and was expected to participate in racially prejudicial behavior as a continued condition of my employment.”
In January, Shaw said “the last straw” was when during a retreat centered on race, she said that when she told other participants that she didn’t “feel comfortable” talking about [her] race [and her racial identity], it was a way of expressing “‘white fragility.’” [and a power play]
“I was shamed and humiliated in front of all of my colleagues,” she said.
https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2021/02/23/smith-college-employee-resignation
also
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/former-employee-claims-smith-college-had-racially-hostile-work-environment/ar-BB1e86Fh
Shaw, a graduate of the college, resigned her position and her resignation letter - which outlines her experience in more detail is here:
https://www.thecollegefix.com/bulletin-board/read-the-smith-college-whistleblowers-powerful-resignation-letter/
The response from Smith College President is here:
https://www.smith.edu/president-kathleen-mccartney/letters-community/2020-21/message-from-president-mccartney-feb-22-2021
