Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
7/28/2011
Media Contacts:
Katie Broendel, broendelk@aauw.org
202/785-7761
Lisa Goodnight, goodnightl@aauw.org
202/785-7738
WASHINGTON –The American Association of University Women (AAUW) applauds the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination for its decision in favor of Lulu Sun, an English professor at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, who claimed the university discriminated against her on the basis of gender, race, and national origin and retaliated against her for complaining. The AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund gave financial support and publicity to her case.
The hearing officer ordered the promotion of Sun to full professor and awarded her all her lost wages, approximately $154,000, as well as $200,000 in damages. The university will also be charged a civil penalty of $10,000, and administrators will be required to attend a training session on employment discrimination law.
"We are thrilled with the outcome of this case. After more than seven years, Dr. Sun finally got her day in court. AAUW is proud to have stood with her in her fight for justice," said AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman, CAE. "I'm very proud of our work to fight such discrimination by supporting plaintiffs who might not be able to pursue their cases without AAUW's help."
Sun alleged that male candidates received more favorable treatment than she did when she applied for promotion to full professor and that her teaching evaluations and research were ignored by university administrators, who pressured her to withdraw her application. When she refused, the university retaliated by denying her request for travel funding and withdrawing her course releases, Sun said.
The university has agreed to promote Sun to full professor, retroactive to September 1, 2004, and pay the lost wages and 12 percent interest. It is, however, appealing the damages, the attorneys' fees, the civil penalty, and the training session on employment discrimination law.
"It's almost unbelievable that in the 21st century people still treat women like second-class citizens and expect to get away with it," AAUW Director of Public Policy and Government Relations Lisa Maatz said. "It's our job to make sure universities and their employers are held responsible. We're committed to standing with women who have the courage to fight, and we'll continue to stand with Dr. Sun."
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The American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Since 1881, AAUW has been one of the nation’s leading voices promoting education and equity for women and girls. AAUW has a nationwide network of more than 100,000 members and donors, 1,000 branches, and 600 college/university institutional partners. Since AAUW's founding 130 years ago, members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political. AAUW's commitment to educational equity is reflected in its public policy advocacy, community programs, leadership development, conventions and conferences, national partnerships, and international connections.