Lawsuit led against 'U,' former prof.

A multi-million dollar lawsuit was filed yesterday against former School of Music Prof. Pier Calabria, School of Music Dean Paul Boylan and the University Board of Regents for four counts of sexual harassment and race discrimination.

According to the complaint, Johnson is seeking a trial by jury on four claims of sexual harassment, retaliation, race discrimination and discrimination based on the harasser's status.

Johnson is suing for substantial compensatory and exemplary damages in an amount to be determined by the jury.

University officials were unable to comment on the charges yesterday because they have not yet been served with trial papers.

But University officials insisted the issue is not taken lightly.

"We take charges of sexual harassment very seriously," University spokesperson Julie Peterson said.

Maureen Johnson, a black woman and former Music student, has made claims the while attending the University her professor sexually harassed her and the University failed to respond. Johnson said that after the University failed to act she was forced to leave the University.

Johnson is currently attending the University of Southern Illinois.

"Their whole response to this was to sweep this under the rug," said Miranda Massie, Johnson's attorney, who added that Johnson's aim is to make sure matters of sexual harassment are dealt with at the University.

But Calabria is no longer working at the University, Peterson said.

Calabria, who had a four year contract with the University which was to end in 1999, was "relieved of instructional responsibilities" after winter term 1998, Peterson said, adding that his contract has not been renewed.

According to the documents submitted to the court, the first count is on grounds of sexual harassment by a University professor to a student making advances toward her and the University's failure to take remedial action. When Johnson did not respond, according to the charges, she was demoted and was subject to a hostile environment.

Massie said it was not until the University discovered that Johnson had hired an attorney that Calabria's contract was terminated.

The second count is retaliation of Boylan and School of Music employees against Johnson, treating her "less favorably than they treated similarly situated students," according to the complaint.

According to documents obtained from Massie the University is also being charged with race discrimination, after they allegedly failed to take remedial action. Massie claims that the University failed to act because of her minority status and is more responsive to white students.

The fourth count is discrimination based on the harasser's status. The court document filed claims that the University has a policy of dealing with sexual harassment cases differently when faculty and students are involved.

But co-Director of the Office of Equity and Diversity Services Sue Rasmussen said complaints involving a student accusing a faculty member are handled by her office, a division of Human Resources. Cases in which a faculty member or a student accuses another student, the complaint is handled by the Office of Student Conflict Resolution.

"We need to build a movement," said Caroline Wong, a supporter of Johnson and member of the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action By Any Mean Necessary.

Supporters of Johnson have organized a campaign to end sexual harassment on campus. Four campus organizations - BAMN, the Undergraduate Women's Studies Association, Quiet Women End Reform, and MSA's Peace and Justice Commission - have played a key role in building support for this movement.

Counseling is necessary but not enough, Wong said adding that "we need to build a social movement."

Since the campaign for Johnson has been launched, several other students have come forward with claims of sexual harassment, Wong said, but they are not ready to come forward.

Organizers of the campaign are planning a tribunal for students who have suffered from racist and sexist acts at the University. Students are invited to speak out address these issues. The tribunal is scheduled to be held at the University on April 10 at 11 a.m.

04-01-99