Emporia State University Interim President Jackie Vietti today announced the commitment to work toward a more inclusive campus community as well as to review university policies and procedures to improve the timeliness of grievance investigations.
The announcement coincides with today’s release of the findings of an internal investigation into allegations of a hate crime and racial discrimination in the School of Library and Information Management (SLIM). That investigation, launched at Vietti’s directive according to university policy, was conducted internally following procedures in the University Policy Manual with an additional step of review by two external experts, an attorney with a multi-partner firm and a human resources management consultant who is a former member of the Higher Learning Commission Board of Trustees and the Ohio Ethics Commission.
The investigation considered three questions:
- Was a hate crime committed on or about April 8, 2015?
- Did racial discrimination occur in SLIM during the 2014-15 academic year?
- Are there further observations or recommendations to be made for SLIM?
At issue was a graduate student in SLIM around April 8 finding a notebook in the graduate student office on which was written a racial slur. It was reported to an assistant to the SLIM dean and then to the dean. There was no formal follow up at that time.
On July 1, 2015, Melvin Hale, a SLIM faculty member, and his wife, Angelica, on staff as assistant to the dean of SLIM, contacted Emporia State University Police and Safety, told an officer about the April incident and alleged that a co-worker had written the word.
The internal investigation, launched July 10, found that:
- No hate crime was committed;
- No racial discrimination occurred; and
- ESU Interim President and the Administration will work with faculty and staff to build a more inclusive community and with those within the SLIM to ensure a positive working environment. (Additional information is included below.)
The two external reviewers concurred with the findings and the methods used for the investigation, which included interviews with 19 witnesses and resulted in approximately 350 pages of notes, documentation and other information.
“While any action, slur or otherwise, that marginalizes any member or group of Hornet Nation is reprehensible, it is now time for us to move forward and continue to work together for a better, stronger Hornet Nation in order to achieve our vision of changing lives to serve the common good,” said Vietti, who shared the investigation results today via email with the campus community.
As a first step, Vietti will work with a group of Emporia State faculty, staff and students to elevate the conversation of inclusivity on campus and develop an action plan to build a more inclusive campus community. In addition, the university’s policies and procedures surrounding grievances will be reviewed to ensure a situation is addressed in a more timely manner moving forward.
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Timeline
- On or around April 8, 2015, a graduate student in SLIM discovered a racial slur written in his/her notebook, which was left in the graduate students’ office. The student reported the discovery to Angelica Hale, then assistant to the dean. The discovery was then reported to SLIM Dean Gwen Alexander. There was no formal follow up at that time.
- July 1 — Angelica Hale and her husband, Melvin Hale, assistant professor in SLIM, contacted Emporia State University Police and Safety, told an officer about the April incident and alleged that a co-worker had written the word.
- July 2 — ESU police completed its review and determined that no hate crime had occurred. The department’s investigative notes were forwarded to the Lyon County Attorney for review. Dr. Hale contacted Interim President Jackie Vietti to express his dissatisfaction with the police finding. She acknowledged his email.
- July 5 — Dr. Hale sent an email to Interim President Jackie Vietti expressing concern about the ESU police investigation.
- July 6 — Vietti responded to Dr. Hale and encouraged him to file a complaint as outlined in the University Policy Manual.
- July 8 — Dr. Hale informed Vietti that he did not intend to file a complaint under university policy in the immediate future.
- July 9 — Lyon County Attorney Marc Goodman concurred with the ESU police finding that a hate crime had not occurred.
- July 10 — Vietti directed that an investigation be conducted as outlined in the University Policy Manual.
- July 14 — Ray Lauber, associate director of Human Resources, launched an investigation. The director of HR did not handle the investigation because she has been involved in earlier discussions with the Hales.
- Week of Aug. 24 — two independent consultants were secured to review Emporia State’s investigation process and findings. One was an attorney and the other a human relations consultant who is a former member of the Higher Learning Commission Board of Trustees.