Eastern University Asks Federal Judge To Dismiss Civil Rights Suit

RADNOR, PA—Eastern University asked a federal judge Wednesday to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a former professor, accusing the university administrators of not renewing her contract after she asked them to stop making racist and sexist comments.

Anne Whitney Collins of Malvern claimed Dr. Kenton Sparks, provost and vice president, did not renew her contract after she complained about race discrimination and sexist behavior in the workplace.

Eastern University’s attorney, Glenn R. Davis of Mechanicsburg, countered that the university’s actions were not in retaliation and no unlawful factor motivated decisions regarding Collins’ employment.

The case is before the U.S. Judge Paul S. Diamond.

In the lawsuit, Collins said that Al Socci, a dean of the College of Business, and Tod Gilmore, chair of the undergraduate business program, made racist comments, intensifying after the murder of George Floyd.

Floyd, a Black man, was killed by police in Minneapolis in May 2020. The videotaped death, caused by an officer kneeling on his neck, sparked outrage across the nation. One of the officers, Derek Chauvin, was convicted of murder. Three other officers were convicted of violating Floyd's civil rights.

Collins is seeking $150,000 in damages for causing emotional harm due to losing her position after she reported the two for allegedly espousing white supremacist beliefs.

She also claims she suffered economic losses and employment benefits. Collins said in the complaint that 45 percent of Eastern's student body are persons of color.

Eastern University responded on its website that Collins filed a similar complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and was dismissed.

According to the lawsuit filed by Philadelphia attorneys, Jennifer Myers Chalal and Alan Epstein, Collins said she was asked to resign but refused. The college did not renew her faculty covenant for the 2022-23 school year.