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A gender discrimination lawsuit has been filed against Northern Michigan University by four of its professors.
Bloomfield-based law firm Sterling Attorneys at Law, P.C. filed the lawsuit on behalf of Claudia L. Hart, Carol S. Steinhaus, Karin M. Stulz, and Margaret E. Vroman, all professors at NMU’s College of Business.
The lawsuit alleges years of gender discrimination at the hands of college administrators and that the College of Business significantly underpays its female faculty compared to their male counterparts and denies them equal opportunities for tenure and other benefits.
The professors’ attorney, Brian J. Farrar, said in a statement, “Academic institutions like NMU play an important role in shaping future leaders. When the University refuses to follow gender equality laws, what kind of message does this send to its students?”
There are currently 22 faculty members in the College of Business and 15 of them are males. Papers filed in the lawsuit claim Hart, Steinhaus, and Vroman are the only female faculty members in the College of Business with the rank of Professor and they currently earn approximately 9% less than the male Professors on average. Stulz is the only female faculty member in the College of Business with the rank of Associate Professor and she currently earns approximately 39% less than the male Associate Professors on average.
The attorneys also assert that over the last 12 years, the average male salary in the College of Business significantly exceeds the average female salary across all ranks and disciplines. This pay disparity exists despite the fact that plaintiffs perform equal work under similar conditions.
In addition to the wage disparity, the lawsuit claims NMU’s College of Business has fostered an environment in which male faculty members are treated better than female faculty members in regards to the terms and conditions of their employment, gives male faculty members preference in choosing the classes they teach, treats male faculty better than female faculty in terms of meeting qualifications for tenure, and has a practice of awarding tenure track positions to male faculty members instead of equally or more qualified female faculty members.
When plaintiffs complained to NMU’s administration about gender
discrimination, the plaintiff’s attorneys charge, several male faculty members and administrators, including Joel Thompson and Dale Kapla, retaliated against plaintiffs by disparaging their work, canceling their classes and programs, or increasing their workloads without additional compensation
The professors are seeking punitive damages in whatever amount the court finds them to be entitled to, equitable relief, interest as an element of damages, statutory interest, and attorney fees and costs.
The lawsuit is pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan.
In response to the lawsuit, NMU released the following statement:
NMU received the complaint February 13, 2019 and is being reviewed by legal counsel.
As a practice, NMU will not comment concerning details of pending litigation or personnel matters. NMU officials did recently attend a conciliation meeting with an EEOC mediator seeking to resolve the fair employment complaint.
The complainants disregarded the EEOC suggested parameters for a possible settlement and thus no agreement was made and the process continues. NMU hopes to work towards a resolution in a timely manner.
Faculty salaries are dependent upon credentials, degrees, teaching area, and research and are based upon negotiated formulas with the faculty union. NMU officials comply with the collective bargaining agreement.
