Discrimination suit hits SIUE
Former employee claims termination due to race and age
Allan Lewis
Issue date: 9/17/09 Section: News
Former assistant to the dean of engineering Ronald Banks is suing SIUE, the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees and the state of Illinois for what he feels is discrimination.
Banks, a 51-year-old black male, was employed at SIUE from March 1994 until October 2007 as an assistant to the dean, but was let go once the university no longer needed the assistant position.
Banks attorney Edward Szewcyk claims the university has since implemented a new position with similar responsibilities and filled it with a white individual.
"The person who took over had the exact same responsibilities and was not a minority individual," Szewcyk said. "Our claim is that Mr. Banks is out of his job because of his race."
The suit Banks filed states the defendants in the case "intended to discriminate unlawfully and did discriminate unlawfully against the Plaintiff because of his race, color and/or age."
The suit states Banks believed he was entitled to reassignment within the university once the position was abolished, but he was not granted that opportunity.
Szewcyk said Banks deserved reassignment within the university.
"Similarly situated white employees are not losing their jobs because they are being reorganized, and SIUE routinely gives assistance to find employment within the university or finding other employment opportunities," Szewcyk said. "Mr. Banks was not given this assistance, and we believe that it is because of his race."
Banks seeks liquidation and compensatory damages, back and front pay, job reinstatement or reassignment, attorney's fee and other relief.
SIUE Director of Public Affairs Greg Conroy and SIU Executive Assistant for Government Affairs David Gross were unavailable for comment as of 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Banks, a 51-year-old black male, was employed at SIUE from March 1994 until October 2007 as an assistant to the dean, but was let go once the university no longer needed the assistant position.
Banks attorney Edward Szewcyk claims the university has since implemented a new position with similar responsibilities and filled it with a white individual.
"The person who took over had the exact same responsibilities and was not a minority individual," Szewcyk said. "Our claim is that Mr. Banks is out of his job because of his race."
The suit Banks filed states the defendants in the case "intended to discriminate unlawfully and did discriminate unlawfully against the Plaintiff because of his race, color and/or age."
The suit states Banks believed he was entitled to reassignment within the university once the position was abolished, but he was not granted that opportunity.
Szewcyk said Banks deserved reassignment within the university.
"Similarly situated white employees are not losing their jobs because they are being reorganized, and SIUE routinely gives assistance to find employment within the university or finding other employment opportunities," Szewcyk said. "Mr. Banks was not given this assistance, and we believe that it is because of his race."
Banks seeks liquidation and compensatory damages, back and front pay, job reinstatement or reassignment, attorney's fee and other relief.
SIUE Director of Public Affairs Greg Conroy and SIU Executive Assistant for Government Affairs David Gross were unavailable for comment as of 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 9
Jimmy Johns
posted 9/17/09 @ 11:07 AM CST
I bet race was involved. He's a lazy black guy and didn't do enough work so they let him go! And found someone more competent!
Melissa S
posted 9/17/09 @ 11:59 AM CST
Wow "Jimmy Johns" way to make yourself look really ignorant. I've seen plenty of "lazy white people".
Race should never be a factor. We all bleed the same color. (Continued…)
joy
posted 9/17/09 @ 12:07 PM CST
THIS IS THE WAY S.I.U.E. OPERATES THEY CHANGE TITLE OF JOB. THEN THAY SAY THE JOB HAS BEEN AL
INATED! THEN THEY GIVE THE JOB A NEW TITLE AN REHIRE
John
posted 9/17/09 @ 5:57 PM CST
I will admit, there's some odd stuff that goes on in that office with switcharoos in the Associate Dean position etc. But I highly doubt that Mr. Banks was laid off due to his race - he was probably too expensive for his duties. (Continued…)
Jane
posted 9/25/09 @ 6:24 PM CST
SIUE do not have many minorities working for them in faculty positions, maintenance positons, or administrative postions anyway.
Mike M
posted 12/07/09 @ 1:45 PM CST
As a former student of SIUE I can see that very little has changed with diversity and race issues. I guess excluding blacks and other qualified minorities from the hiring process is just considered as business as usual. (Continued…)
Post a Comment