Two Jewish professors at Wheelock College have filed federal workplace discrimination complaints, alleging that they were subjected to anti-Semitic discrimination following their statements about the lack of Jewish perspective on the campus.
According to The Boston Globe, professors Eric Silverman and Gale Dines were subjected to treatment from Wheelock president Jackie Jenkins-Scott and other college administrators that “made their work lives miserable” and have “created a fear of speaking out on campus.” This treatment includes Wheelock administration allegedly preventing Silverman from applying to administrative positions at the university, reports USA Today College.
The Globe also reports that both Silverman and Dines claim that actions taken by Jenkins-Scott and other administration at Wheelock has harmed their reputations and careers through instances like accusing Silverman of racism, and launching an investigation against Dines for racist and sexist behavior using a student complaint that Dines said the school could not prove was real.
In a statement emailed to USA Today College correspondent Sean Speers, Wheelock College dismissed the claims as “without merit” and emphasized its commitment to fostering a diverse workplace “free from discrimination and retaliation.” School officials said they’re ready to defend Wheelock against the claims.
Silverman also told the Globe that the nature of the alleged events is incredibly damaging to the College’s mission of teaching social justice, and that the school is “not living up to its core ethical values.”
Regardless of the findings of the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, the press and negative publicity surrounding the workplace discrimination complaints filed by Silverman and Dines will undoubtedly be pretty damaging to the reputation of the liberal arts college that specializes in preparing students for careers in social work, education and social justice.