Friday, March 3. 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
Discrimination lawsuit resting in the jury's hands
By Jim O'Malley writer@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
Cynthia Annett and Ray Pierotti's discrimination and retaliation claims against the University of Kansas went to the jury yesterday, nearly three weeks after the trial began.
The jury began deliberating yesterday afternoon, and it had not returned a verdict by the time the court recessed at 3 p.m.
Annett, a former assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, alleged that the University had denied her tenure because of her gender. She also alleged that the University had retaliated against her for opposing policies she thought would be unfair to female and minority graduate students. Civil rights laws forbid employers to retaliate against employees for opposing discrimination.
In closing arguments yesterday, Alan Johnson, the plaintiffs' attorney, emphasized the department's own numerical rating of faculty in annual reviews. Annett's annual research ratings were higher than those of two male colleagues who were granted tenure.
Pierotti, her husband and an associate professor in the same department, alleged that the University had retaliated against him for opposing the same policies. Pierotti also sued Thomas Taylor, his department chairman, for retaliation.
"But the criteria used for annual reviews are the same as for promotion and tenure," he said.
All Annett wanted, Johnson said, was to be judged under the same standard as her male colleagues.
Barbara McCloud, University assistant general counsel, argued that granting tenure was an important decision about lifetime employment. That's why the University requires outside reviewers when considering tenure, she said, which is not done in annual reviews.
McCloud said Pierotti's retaliation claims were not supported by evidence. She argued that he was a hard person to work with. For example, she said, he called Taylor "a snake in the grass," and compared Sally Frost Mason, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to "a teen-aged girl who changes friends on a daily basis."
Pierotti has a practice of making accusations of discrimination when he doesn't get what he wants, McCloud said.
"Both Dr. Annett and Dr. Pierotti are adults," McCloud said. "They educated
"Both Dr. Annett and Dr. Pierotti are adults. They're educated professionals. They made their own choices and do not like the consequences."
Barbara McCloud University assistant general counsel
Trial update
Go to www.kansan.com this afternoon to find out if a verdict has been reached in the discrimination lawsuit against the University.
professionals. They made their own choices and do not like the consequences. They want the University to pay, they want Dr. Taylor to pay. The University and Dr. Taylor respectfully request that you make Dr. Annett and Dr. Plerotti take responsibility for their own choices. There is no evidence of discrimination. There is no evidence of retaliation."
Johnson told the jury to send a message to the University that it should discriminate. He asked the jury to send a message to Annett that she was a good professor who was denied her dream.
Earlier in the week, Johnson's crossexamination of University officials brought out evidence that the department of ecology and evolutionary biology had not enrolled any minority graduate students after it adopted the policies Annett and Pierotti had opposed in 1997.
Taylor testified Wednesday that he had not discriminated or retaliated against either Annett or Pierotti.
"As chairman of the department, a lot of things have been pinned on you," McCloud said while questioning Tavlor.
Taylor said his only goal was to make the department the best. That was why he recommended Pierotti for tenure even though he was a difficult colleague to work with, he said. Other witnesses also testified that Pierotti was a difficult colleague.
Taylor denied suggestions that he had rigged the tenure process against Annett by choosing unfavorable outside reviewers and making unfounded charges of academic misconduct.
He testified that the conflict in the department was taking a toll on his health. He said he had high blood pressure and was taking anti-depressants and stomach medication
Communication, unity goals of campus events
Women's history to be recognized
By Ryan Blethen writer@kansan.com Kanson staff writer
The celebration of Women's History Month begins Sunday at the University of Kansas with a panel discussion and ends with a concert.
Anneliese Stover, Overland Park sophomore and co-organizer of Women's History Month at the University, said the celebration provided an opportunity to unite women across campus.
"We're hoping to get a lot of women from across campus to celebrate Women's History Month," she said.
The goal of the University's celebration is to get women on campus to communicate with each other, said Christie Garton. Olathe junior and co-organizer.
"I think the main goal for our activities is communication and to bring women together." Garton said.
Natalie Lucas, Kansas City, Mo. junior and president of the Black Student Union, will sit on Sunday's panel. She said topics of discussion would be
"I think the main goal for our activities is communication and to bring women together."
Co-organizer of Women's History Month
women as leaders and breaking down the barriers between minority and Caucasian women.
Next week, students also will have the opportunity to send postcards to the women who were inspirational in their lives, Garton said. Free postcards will be provided at Wescoe Beach.
Other activities during the month include cooking dinner for retirement home residents and watching a concert.
Women's History Month began as International Women's Day. The first Women's Day was on March 8, 1911. In 1981, Rep. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Uttal) co-sponsored a bill to name the week of March 8, 1987 National Women's History Week. In 1987, the week was expanded into a month. The month of March was chosen because Women's History Week was celebrated in March.
WOMEN'S HISTORY EVENTS
Unity panel discussion. 7 p.m.
Sunday in Gertrude Sellards Pearson-
Corbin Hall.
The panel will consist of female student leaders on campus, and it will discuss women's issues and the breaking down of barriers between women.
Women's talent show, 7 p.m. March 13 at Hinsinger Hall
Postcard and ribbon, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday and Tuesday, Wescoe Beach.
Students can write postcards to women
who have been influential in their lives or
put influential women's names on a ribbon
that will be hung in the Kansas
Union.
Community service event, 3 p.m.
March 15 at the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence, 1520 Haskell Ave. Students will make posters depicting women in a positive light. At 6 p.m., students will go to Brandon Woods Retirement Community to help cook, serve and eat dinner with the residents.
RAIN benefit concert, 6:30 p.m.
March 29, Jayhawey Towers courtyard.
After a free pizza dinner, two bands will
play. Additional bands may be added.
Cricket on campus
Brian Leffer, Lansing sophomore, and Simon Parkinson, Prairie Village senior, play cricket on the lawn in front of Fraser Hall. Despite the cooler temperatures, they took advantage of a break between classes yesterday to spend time outdoors.
Photo by Tara Kraus/KANSAN
Bike racks on front of KU on Wheels buses are not being used by students. Ten permits have been issued this semester to use the racks, but there are no numbers to indicate daily use.
Photo by Lucas W.
Krump/KASAN
Bike riders rejecting racks on campus buses
Kansan staff writer
By Erinn R. Barcomb writer@kansan.com
Charles Pirtle has never seen a bike on the front of a KU on Wheels bus, and chances are most students haven't, either.
"I'm not sure we've ever moved one up and down the road," said Pirtle, general manager of the Lawrence Bus Co.
they are required.
The bike racks were installed on the front of four buses last year. Pirtle said that the racks were capable of holding two bikes but that they rarely did.
Scott Kaiser, transportation board chairman, said that there were no numbers to indicate daily use but that the number of permits for use of the racks would be a good indicator. The permits are free, but
Holly Krebs, transportation coordinator, said that 10 permits were issued this semester but that she did not know how many people used them.
“it's something we haven't dealt with this year because of city
Krebs: Says 10 perms were issued this semester
Kaiser: Says there are no numbers to indicate daily use
issues," Krebs said. "We are still in the development stage."
More attention could be paid to bike rack use next semester, she said.
Krebs said having bike racks on buses was a good idea because it meant students could ride their bikes to a bus stop and ride the bus to a more distant location.
"I really like the idea because it creates a more integrated transportation system," Krebs said.
One of the problems with the bike racks is that they tend to be on buses with quick routes, Krebs said. That means taking the time to load a bike on the front of a bus slows down the routes, she said.
Rachel Molus, Utica freshman, said she thought having bike racks wasn't practical.
"People are always in a hurry, and
"What we really need to do is have one of the bike racks on display so they can learn how to use it, but we don't have a location we can use,"
Holly Krebbs Transportation coordinator
I don't think there would be time to load and unload bike," she said.
Krebs said it was necessary to educate students about the racks.
"What we really need to do is have one of the bike racks on display so they can learn how to use it, but we don't have a location we can use," Krebs said.
Holly Krebbs
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