{"id":136784,"date":"2024-12-14T02:59:43","date_gmt":"2024-12-13T19:59:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=136784"},"modified":"2024-12-14T02:59:43","modified_gmt":"2024-12-13T19:59:43","slug":"university-of-michigan-dei-administrator-who-was-fired-over-alleged-antisemitic-comments-plans-to-take-legal-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=136784","title":{"rendered":"University of Michigan DEI administrator who was fired over alleged antisemitic comments plans to take legal action"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-editable=\"content\" itemprop=\"articleBody\" data-reorderable=\"content\">\n<p>\n    <cite class=\"source__cite\"><br \/>\n      <span class=\"source__location\" data-editable=\"location\"\/><br \/>\n      <span class=\"source__text\" data-editable=\"source\">CNN<\/span><br \/>\n        \u00a0\u2014\u00a0<br \/>\n    <\/cite>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4m7danh003c26qoazj5g2oh@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            An administrator with the diversity, equity and inclusion office at the University of Michigan was fired Tuesday after she was accused of making antisemitic remarks \u2013 and now she plans to pursue legal action against the school, her attorney said.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4m7dclk00003b6mpnlwi1ve@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Rachel Dawson, who served as director of the university\u2019s Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives, was accused of saying, \u201cThe university is controlled by wealthy Jews\u201d during a conversation with two professors at an academic conference on diversity and equity in late March, according to documents obtained by CNN.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4m8awrc000c3b6m08k93wtv@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Dawson was also accused of saying, \u201cWe don\u2019t work with Jews. They are wealthy and privileged and take care of themselves\u201d and that \u201cJewish people have \u2018no genetic DNA\u2019 that would connect them to the land of Israel,\u201d according to the documents.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4m8m8l9000k3b6m5zzncfy2@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Dawson\u2019s lawyer Amanda Ghannam denied that she made those statements or any antisemitic comments. Before she was fired this week, Dawson had received a written warning on October 15, and was placed on leave a little over two weeks later when the warning was revoked, Ghannam told CNN Thursday. Ghannam said she will take \u201cappropriate legal action\u201d for what she alleges is a violation of Dawson\u2019s constitutional rights as a public employee.\n    <\/p>\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/image\/instances\/cm4mbdmxo00193b6m1ldlwj3a@published\" class=\"image_inline-small image_inline-small__hide-placeholder\" data-image-variation=\"image_inline-small\" data-name=\"RachelDawson-OAMiheadshot-1-e1697470026878.jpg\" data-component-name=\"image\" data-observe-resizes=\"\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image_inline-small--eq-extra-small=\"\" data-original-ratio=\"1\" data-original-height=\"620\" data-original-width=\"620\" data-url=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/racheldawson-oamiheadshot-1-e1697470026878.jpg?c=original\" data-editable=\"settings\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image_inline-small__container \" data-image-variation=\"image_inline-small\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image_inline-small--eq-extra-small=\"\">\n       <picture class=\"image_inline-small__picture\"><source height=\"620\" width=\"620\" media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/racheldawson-oamiheadshot-1-e1697470026878.jpg?q=w_256,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"620\" width=\"620\" media=\"(min-width: 960px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/racheldawson-oamiheadshot-1-e1697470026878.jpg?q=w_256,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"620\" width=\"620\" media=\"(min-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/racheldawson-oamiheadshot-1-e1697470026878.jpg?q=w_256,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"620\" width=\"620\" media=\"(max-width: 479px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/racheldawson-oamiheadshot-1-e1697470026878.jpg?q=w_680,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/racheldawson-oamiheadshot-1-e1697470026878.jpg?q=w_256,c_fill\" alt=\"Rachel Dawson\" class=\"image_inline-small__dam-img image_inline-small__dam-img--loading\" onload=\"this.classList.remove('image_inline-small__dam-img--loading')\" onerror=\"imageLoadError(this)\" height=\"620\" width=\"620\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4m8tqqa000o3b6mrysa6to8@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cThe law is extremely clear that public employees are protected by their First Amendment rights,\u201d Ghannam said.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4m9i2hw000r3b6mbraov0xz@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            A university spokeswoman declined to confirm on Thursday whether Dawson had been fired, saying that the university would not comment on personnel matters, the New York Times <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/12\/12\/us\/university-of-michigan-dei-administrator-antisemitism.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a>. CNN has reached out to the University of Michigan for comment.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4m9ulmu000u3b6mwbzofcza@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            The incident comes after months of escalating tensions between the university\u2019s administration and pro-Palestinian students who have demanded leaders divest from Israel. Days ago, the home of a Jewish member of the university\u2019s Board of Regents was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/12\/09\/us\/university-of-michigan-regents-vandalized-acker\/index.html\">vandalized<\/a> with pro-Palestinian graffiti. It also comes as the school faces backlash from students and faculty over planned cuts to its diversity, equity and inclusion programs.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4m9vsed000x3b6msebbk9we@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Since October 2023, Dawson had led an office that provides resources and support to underrepresented students of diverse backgrounds. Before holding that role, Dawson had worked at the university for six years as managing director of the university\u2019s academic medical center.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4mat3bh00103b6mkcl2wutx@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Spurred by an August letter from the Anti-Defamation League of Michigan outlining the allegations, the university called on outside law firm Covington &amp; Burling LLP to conduct an investigation. The Los Angeles law firm had previously worked with the ADL, including to provide pro bono <a href=\"https:\/\/www.adl.org\/resources\/press-release\/brandeis-centeradlstandwithus-launch-pro-bono-k-12-antisemitism-helpline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">legal assistance<\/a> to parents whose children are experiencing antisemitism in California schools.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4mb8p7l00133b6mt4efw6g6@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cIt is not possible to determine with certainty whether Ms. Dawson made the exact remarks attributed to her in the ADL Michigan letter, because there is no recording of the conversation and no witness other than the reporting parties and the subject of the investigation,\u201d the law firm\u2019s September 25 memorandum summarizing the investigation said.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4mbfeuf001b3b6memxfwm03@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            The memo concluded, however, that \u201cthe weight of the available evidence supports ADL Michigan\u2019s report,\u201d which claimed that Dawson made \u201cdeeply troubling and blatantly antisemitic comments.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"subheader inline-placeholder\" data-editable=\"text\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/subheader\/instances\/cm4mbppk2001d3b6m6ebvkkjn@published\" data-component-name=\"subheader\" id=\"professors-and-dei-official-provide-conflicting-accounts\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n        Professors and DEI official provide conflicting accounts<br \/>\n<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4mbd6np00163b6m2gwwus2q@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            The allegations stemmed from a conversation that Dawson had on March 23 with two professors as they attended a diversity, equity and student success conference hosted by the American Association of Colleges and Universities in Philadelphia.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4mcgt7l001l3b6miyy9ct1j@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Loyola University New Orleans professor Naomi Yavneh Klos and an assistant professor of ethnic studies \u2013 who was not named and whose affiliation was not revealed \u2013 said they approached Dawson because they heard about the \u201cnegative experience\u201d of a Jewish University of Michigan student, according to the Covington &amp; Burling memo.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4md8k7t00203b6m7y9r51rc@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Klos asked Dawson whether her office works with Jewish students, and she responded that her office did not work with Jewish students because they\u2019re privileged and did not need assistance from the DEI team, according to Klos\u2019 account. The other professor stated that the conversation left her \u201cpractically shaking,\u201d the memo said.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4mbrpb4001g3b6midyx8zb9@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Two days later, Klos texted a friend who works at the ADL, saying: \u201cShe told me their policy is to wait for groups to reach out to them and she doesn\u2019t work with the Jews because they are all wealthy and privileged and take care of themselves,\u201d according to the memo. Her friend advised her to file an incident report with the ADL.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4n2xcvd00013b6mtslwn9p8@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cDEI offices have an obligation to serve students facing challenges based on their identities, including Jewish students, many of whom have faced harassment, exclusion, discriminatory comments, and even violence after October 7th,\u201d Klos told CNN on Friday. She said Dawson told her \u201csomething along the lines that we all know\u201d Jews have no ancestral relationship to Israel.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4n3a31l00033b6mpo9x222h@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Klos declined to further comment about Dawson\u2019s response to the allegations, saying Loyola University asked her to refrain from discussing the incident.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4md25yx001v3b6mkq993tdy@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Dawson, on the other hand, provided a different account of the conversation she had with the two professors. Ghannam, her attorney, denied that Dawson said any of the remarks she was accused of, including that Jews had no ancestral claim to Israel. Ghannam said the topic of conversation came up when Dawson was asked by the women if she knew the history of the region, and Dawson responded she believed multiple groups of people have origins in the region, Ghannam said.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4mdczfa00223b6mwx7z29ux@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            The university\u2019s handling of the allegations \u201csets a dangerous precedent,\u201d Ghannam said, adding that it\u2019s unprecedented for the school to hire an external investigator for a lower level administrator instead of addressing it with her direct supervisor and conducting a traditional human resources process. She said the law firm\u2019s investigation \u201cleaves out important context,\u201d including that Dawson was responding to questions and framing from the women who approached her.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4md413x001y3b6ml6oh1g99@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201dMy client is a Black woman who was approached by two White women who became visibly angry with her when she didn\u2019t agree with them,\u201d Ghannam said. \u201cThe university decided to take the side of the two women over a beloved leader in the community who has a long history of serving all students.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4men77000273b6mre5pl1y4@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            The university is grappling with a series of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/06\/17\/us\/university-of-michigan-antisemitic-incidents-report\/index.html\">reports <\/a>of Jewish people being targeted. On Monday, the sound of shattering glass jolted Board of Regents member Jordan Acker from his sleep just after 2 a.m., he told CNN. He went downstairs to find his front windows had been smashed and his wife\u2019s car vandalized with the messages \u201cDivest\u201d and \u201cFree Palestine.\u201d The incident marks the third time Acker has been targeted since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4mezddm002c3b6miivjy3u3@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            The campus is also facing scrutiny over potential rollbacks in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, with both students and faculty members protesting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigandaily.com\/news\/administration\/sacua-organizes-rally-condemning-potential-regents-vote-to-defund-umich-dei-programs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">last week <\/a>before a Board of Regents meeting.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm4mxiqkw00003b6mt2ra7oe3@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            <em>This story has been updated with additional information.<\/em>\n    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/12\/13\/us\/university-of-michigan-fires-dei-administrator\/index.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CNN \u00a0\u2014\u00a0 An administrator with the diversity, equity and inclusion office at the University of Michigan was fired Tuesday after she was accused of making antisemitic remarks \u2013 and now &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=136784\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8629],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-136784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-u-s","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136784","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=136784"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136784\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=136784"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=136784"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=136784"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}