CSUN PROBES ANTI-SEMITIC COMMENTS.Byline: Robert Monroe Staff Writer CSUN CSUN California State University Northridge officials said Tuesday that they are investigating a former employee's complaint that she was fired after she objected to a supervisor's anti-Semitic remarks. Jacquelyn Barnette, who is African-American and Jewish, said that a supervisor at the California State University, Northridge CSUN offers a variety of programs leading to bachelor's degrees in 61 fields and master's degrees in 42 fields. The university has over 150,000 alumni. It's also home to a summer musical theater/theater program known as TADW (TeenAge Drama Workshop) that leads teenagers through an health center, described Jewish employees as ``fat and lazy'' and complained when they wanted religious holidays off. Barnette said she filed a complaint in December with university labor union labor union: see union, labor. representatives and an assistant to Interim President Louanne Kennedy. Three days later she said she was fired. ``Being black, I've suffered discrimination before but not this bad,'' said Barnette, a junior majoring in political science. CSUN spokesman John Chandler For the Bishop of Salisbury who died in 1426, see . John Chandler (February 1, 1762—September 25, 1841) was an American politician and soldier of Maine. The political career of Chandler, a Democratic-Republican, was interspersed with his involvement in the state said the university is anxious to resolve the matter. ``The university treats allegations like that seriously,'' Chandler said, speaking for Kennedy who was out of town Tuesday. ``In her view, there is no tolerance for any kind of discrimination.'' In January, Kennedy appointed Earl Weiss, an accounting professor and former legal counsel to former CSUN President James Cleary, to conduct an administrative review of the complaint, Chandler said. Weiss' office referred all comment on the investigation to the university's press office. Chandler could not say exactly when Weiss expects to complete his investigation. Barnette, who was hired as a medical records supervisor in June, said the supervisor made disparaging dis·par·age tr.v. dis·par·aged, dis·par·ag·ing, dis·par·ag·es 1. To speak of in a slighting or disrespectful way; belittle. See Synonyms at decry. 2. To reduce in esteem or rank. remarks on several occasions about two Jewish employees working for Barnette. Barnette told the supervisor in December that she was Jewish and offended of·fend v. of·fend·ed, of·fend·ing, of·fends v.tr. 1. To cause displeasure, anger, resentment, or wounded feelings in. 2. by the remarks and intended to file a complaint. ``That's when the trouble started after that,'' Barnette said. She said she was fired the following week, allegedly because of excessive absenteeism ab·sen·tee·ism n. 1. Habitual failure to appear, especially for work or other regular duty. 2. The rate of occurrence of habitual absence from work or duty. . Union representative Nancy Thompson said she examined Barnette's attendance records and found she had taken time off totaling only two work days. ``This is absolutely ludicrous to me,'' Thompson said. ``Didn't they think we would check?' |
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