The University concluded a seven-month research into a scholars declare of race-based discrimination perpetrated through the former executive director of the Center for Women in Law and found the executive director’s alleged conduct did now not violate the University’s Nondiscrimination Policy.
Ayana D’Aguilar, who graduated from UT in May, spoke out on social media in February approximately her revel in interning for then-executive director Linda Chanow, as suggested by way of The Daily Texan in March. D’Aguilar, who identifies as Jamaican-American, stated Chanow, a white girl, made racist feedback to D’Aguilar that led her to give up her internship on the Center. Chanow resigned from her position following the Texan’s authoritative coverage.
“Based on its investigation, OIE (Office for Inclusion and Equity) concluded that there was inadequate proof to find Respondent (Chanow) in violation of the University’s Nondiscrimination Policy,” the record says. “The proof failed to exhibit that Complainant (D’Aguilar) was subjected to remedy because of, or in part of, her race.”
In an assertion furnished to the Texan, Chanow stated she become “very pleased” with the findings of the investigation.
“I fully condemn racial prejudice of all kinds,” Chanow wrote. “When I began my work at the Center for Women in Law nearly ten years ago, I vowed that the Center could represent all ladies attorneys and bridge gaps between girls of all races and ethnicities, backgrounds, and cultures, and I am extraordinarily pleased with our development on this area.”
According to the University investigation performed through OIE and acquired by using the Texan, D’Aguilar said Chanow created a antagonistic paintings environment and treated her disparately on the idea of race. D’Aguilar cited 10 comments Chanow made as evidence of the allegations, each of which OIE investigated.
According to the investigation, D’Aguilar said Chanow told her that she would “never experience at ease in the place of work because (she is) black;” that she might have to “suck it up” when it comes to racial issues; and that she should consciousness on commonalities that she has with white women.
In the investigation findings, OIE mentioned that Chanow “admitted making some of the feedback” and “denied making different remarks, or introduced context to them.” Chanow did no longer specify to the Texan which remarks she admitted to or denied.
“(Chanow’s) comments did no longer create a racially opposed work environment,” the research says. “The feedback (Chanow) is claimed to have made may be considered uncomfortable and beside the point. To display that (Chanow) created a hostile work environment, but, (D’Aguilar) should display that her conduct changed into ‘extreme, pervasive, or continual.’ The feedback proven in allegations 1-6 have been not located to rise to that level.”
According to the investigation, OIE spoke to over a dozen witnesses, such as those requested by using D’Aguilar and Chanow, as well as current and past interns on the Center.
“Most of the witnesses believed that the CWIL may be a difficult place to work for diverse reasons, every now and then such as (Chanow’s) control fashion,” the investigation says. “Most of them did no longer consider that the CWIL changed into a racially antagonistic paintings environment.”
In allegations 7-10, D’Aguilar alleged disparate treatment on the idea of race, saying that tasks she labored on have been not a priority to Chanow even as the ones of white interns have been, consistent with the investigation.
“(Chanow) is alleged to had been dismissive of (D’Aguilar’s) ideas and issues, and to have dealt with her in a manner that might be described as domineering,” the investigation says. “She claims that white employees or interns at the Center have been handled otherwise than this, and that she consequently changed into situation to discrimination resulting from her race.”
In interviews with witnesses, OIE found that some of the staff had advantageous impressions of Chanow’s control even as others had poor impressions.
“(Chanow) became defined with the aid of a number of witnesses of all races as capable of being a difficult character to paintings for,” the investigation says. “Staff of all backgrounds used phrases to explain (Chanow) which include ‘tough,’ ‘demanding,’ ‘abrasive’ and ‘intimidating.’ They supplied examples that resembled the experiences defined by way of (D’Aguilar).”
