April 10, 2021
Perspective by Dan O’Donnell
To hear Milwaukee City Attorney Tearman Spencer tell it, he’s just a cheerful, friendly guy. He readily admits to calling female employees “sweetheart” and “dear,” complimenting them on their looks, and asking about their families. Sure, he’s a little old fashioned, but really, what’s the harm in that?
A Department of Employee Relations investigation into his conduct, though, has determined that he has been harassing subordinates since the moment he took office after being elected last April.
“At least six employees have individually complained about Mr. Spencer, and there are several others who have witnessed the behavior,” investigator Katherine M. Holiday determined. “Among such concerns are several incidents of potentially offensive/discriminatory verbal comments and behavior, as well as one incident of unwelcome physical contact with a female colleague.”
Boise State cancels 50-plus diversity classes after claims student was degraded for beliefs Ian Stevenson and Nicole Foy, The Idaho Statesman
Mar. 16 Boise State University announced Tuesday it was canceling several core curriculum classes after allegations that at least one student was degraded for their beliefs in class.
The cancellation affects roughly 1,300 students in 52 sections of UF 200: Foundations of Ethics and Diversity, according to the university. We have been made aware of a series of concerns, culminating in allegations that a student or students have been humiliated and degraded in class on our campus for their beliefs and values, the university said in a written statement provided to the Idaho Statesman. Effective immediately, we must suspend UF 200.
Biden to review Trump-era Title IX policies
Emma Oxnevad, Online Managing Editor|March 8, 2021
This story has been updated to include comment from university representatives.
President Joe Biden will order the Department of Education (DOE) to reexamine policy changes made to Title IX under the Trump administration.
Biden will specifically target existing policies pertaining to investigating sexual misconduct on college campuses; those policies lead by former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos were a controversial tenant of Trump’s presidency, with many of the changes reverting Obama-era regulations designed to protect survivors of sexual violence. The review will also examine rules that could potentially permit “discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or identity.”