Some kind of problem at UM-Missoula?

[TomCat88]

[coloradocat]

How progressive.

Also, can we please normalize referring to that school as UM-Missoula? I love that.

[grizzh8r]

How progressive.

Also, can we please normalize referring to that school as UM-Missoula? I love that.

[Bobcat4Ever]

“It was well-known that under President Bodnar, the careers of athletic-built women thrived, while older, less attractive women were publicly critiqued.”

Ignoring the poor grammar, this might be interesting in court. What happened to Shannon Schweyen?

[Cataholic]

This situation is interesting. Liberal school known for advancing social causes is accused of holding back women from advancement. Is this legitimate (which is bad) or is it far left liberals creating a new controversy where one does not exist (just as bad). The school looks bad either way. How many negative hits can the university take? They are already the smallest D1 public school in the country.

[allcat]

This isn't the first time they've been accused of something like this.

[Montanabob]

This isn't the first time they've been accused of something like this.

So is for academic or coaching positions?

Or BOTH!

[Rich K]

I seem to recall Rob Natelson had to take the University to court. Seems they didn't like an originalist teaching Constitutional Law.

[wbtfg]

Here's media story with some additional details.

https://dailymontanan.com/2021/08/04/on ... boys-club/

[coloradocat]

Here's media story with some additional details.

https://dailymontanan.com/2021/08/04/on ... boys-club/

Well that doesn't look good. I hope it goes to court so that we can find out specifics and determine if it is as bad (or worse) than they are alleging or if they are just blowing things out of proportion.

Cole was hired to fix UM’s flagging enrollment. According to the lawsuit, she had increased enrollment 44 percent at the University of North Florida, but at UM, she was the lowest paid vice president at $170,000, excluded from meetings with the Montana Board of Regents, and “became the only UM cabinet member who was second guessed, interrupted, criticized and questioned.”

Was she tied for lowest and if not how much higher was the next lowest. Anyone that has been in a meeting with superiors knows that there's almost no way she was the only person who was second guessed, interrupted, criticized and questioned.

Yet Bodnar micromanaged her, continually changed her goals and job duties, asked her to smile, and “commented about her appearance, including her weight, noting that she could not be the face of UM,”

If true, not a good look dude. He's not from the old days where that was tolerated. He's young enough to know better.

But when Koostra questioned a request from Bodnar and former interim Provost Paul Kirgis to decorate the downtown Missoula Marriott with pieces from the museum’s permanent collection because the hotel “did not appear to have the security and climate control requirements necessary to protect the collection,” Bodnar and Kirgis “accused Ms. Koostra of refusing to cooperate.”

The lawsuit also noted the museum’s art is traditionally displayed at the UM president’s house and office. But it said Chelsea Bodnar, the president’s wife, directed the president’s staff to “inappropriately handle and move art in those locations, ignoring the concerns of the museum staff. This diminished and devalued Ms. Koostra’s professional role as the museum’s director.”

Sounds like differences of opinion with your boss and his wife.

Six days after she complained about poor working conditions in a new office, the provost notified Koostra her contract would not be renewed because of budgetary constraints and reorganization, the lawsuit said. Then 62, Koostra was paid for another six months but prohibited from working, and UM replaced her with a male director “with fewer qualifications and a higher starting salary than Ms. Koostra received when she began,” according to the court document.

Could be more to the story but again, not a good look dude.

The lawsuit also said UM leadership encouraged the only male faculty member and current chair to seek a second five-year term, “effectively foreclosing female leadership in the School of Social Work for a decade.”

“Despite her qualifications, UM discouraged her opportunities for professional growth and leadership while favoring her male counterparts.”

Encouraging someone in their current position to keep doing a good job is not the same thing as discouraging opportunities and foreclosing female leadership.

The lawsuit said Sontag Bowman has spoken out against gender inequity on campus, served as a whistleblower, and acted “under the persistent fear of retaliation.”

“At times, Dr. Sontag Bowman has been accused of being a bully by male UM employees simply for ensuring proper payment of her salary,” the lawsuit said.

These both sound like opinions unless she can provide actual examples.

Voorhees, hired in 2012 as dean of students, has more than 30 years of experience in higher education, and in 2002, she served as legislative assistant on Title IX for U.S. Rep. Patsy T. Mink of Hawaii, who co-wrote Title IX. The lawsuit said: “Voorhees assisted Congresswoman Mink in writing her last historical reflection on Title IX, published in the Congressional Record on July 17, 2002.”

How did UM-Missoula not see a lawsuit coming eventually after hiring someone who worked closely with the co-author of the law?

“In this role, Dr. Voorhees became aware of many concerning situations and often alerted UM of Title IX violations and safety issues,” the lawsuit said. “She made repeated efforts to bring to light many concerns she had regarding student and campus safety, especially for female students and faculty, as well as for her own safety as dean of students.”

The lawsuit said despite the importance of keeping students safe and complying with Title IX, Voorhees’ reports “were often met with conflict, minimized, and/or entirely disregarded.”

“Acting through Lucy France, now UM’s legal counsel, and other leaders, UM often overrode Dr. Voorhees’ decisions to keep the campus safe,” the lawsuit said. “Ms. France made decisions, took actions, and guided and/or advised senior administrators, including the president, towards decisions that put the safety of the campus, students and community members, especially women, at risk.”

This all sounds like it could easily be a difference of opinion with management. Until...

The lawsuit said Voorhees’ efforts to fulfill her obligations under Title IX “subjected her to retaliation, culminating in the elimination of her position and employment with UM.” UM eliminated her position, paid her for another 10 months while prohibiting her from working, yet never accused her of any wrongdoing, the lawsuit said.

Like I said at the top, it will be interesting to hear the other side of the story as well as get actual proof of gender discrimination (as opposed to working for a jerk). The biggest issue seems to be the multiple firings/non-renewals (sometimes with a cheaper male replacement).

No matter the outcome it's more bad press for that school.

[griz5700]

Bodnar has been a total disaster. Of course, you won’t hear anyone in Missoula criticize him or the direction of UM…

https://www.google.com/amp/s/missoulian ... 7.amp.html

[Montanabob]

Bodnar has been a total disaster. Of course, you won’t hear anyone in Missoula criticize him or the direction of UM…

https://www.google.com/amp/s/missoulian ... 7.amp.html

From the article:

"Since Bodnar started at the university, 78% of all promotions at UM have been among female employees, 59% of all new hires have been female and women hold a majority of dean positions on campus, Kuntz said."

This is the kind of statement that frustrates me as I try for a promotion as a middle age Caucasian male getting excluded from promotions because of sex and race.

[griz5700]

Bodnar has been a total disaster. Of course, you won’t hear anyone in Missoula criticize him or the direction of UM…

https://www.google.com/amp/s/missoulian ... 7.amp.html

From the article:

"Since Bodnar started at the university, 78% of all promotions at UM have been among female employees, 59% of all new hires have been female and women hold a majority of dean positions on campus, Kuntz said."

This is the kind of statement that frustrates me as I try for a promotion as a middle age Caucasian male getting excluded from promotions because of sex and race.

Agreed. Caucasian males are the problem. That’s why caucasian males are enrolling elsewhere. Brilliant strategy.

[RickRund]

Bodnar has been a total disaster. Of course, you won’t hear anyone in Missoula criticize him or the direction of UM…

https://www.google.com/amp/s/missoulian ... 7.amp.html

From the article:

"Since Bodnar started at the university, 78% of all promotions at UM have been among female employees, 59% of all new hires have been female and women hold a majority of dean positions on campus, Kuntz said."

This is the kind of statement that frustrates me as I try for a promotion as a middle age Caucasian male getting excluded from promotions because of sex and race.

Agreed. Caucasian males are the problem. That’s why caucasian males are enrolling elsewhere. Brilliant strategy.

Wow, the bricks just keep falling.

Ran into a lady here in CdA that is a um grad. She had worked in broadcasting in Florida and moved here. All she could say about him (Bodnar) is that he is gorgeous??? Great recommendation

[catbooster]

Here's media story with some additional details.

https://dailymontanan.com/2021/08/04/on ... boys-club/

Yeah, that sounds bad. But it's basically summarizing the plaintiffs'' claims, not an investigative article that tried to dig into the allegations and prove/disprove them. Some of the claims sound pretty sketchy to me.

For instance:

UM replaced her with a male director “with fewer qualifications and a higher starting salary than Ms. Koostra received when she began,”

The replacement got a higher starting salary than she got when she started 14 years earlier? I would hope so.

It will be interesting to see what happens with this.

[wbtfg]

Here's media story with some additional details.

https://dailymontanan.com/2021/08/04/on ... boys-club/

Yeah, that sounds bad. But it's basically summarizing the plaintiffs'' claims, not an investigative article that tried to dig into the allegations and prove/disprove them. Some of the claims sound pretty sketchy to me.

For instance:

UM replaced her with a male director “with fewer qualifications and a higher starting salary than Ms. Koostra received when she began,”

The replacement got a higher starting salary than she got when she started 14 years earlier? I would hope so.

It will be interesting to see what happens with this.

Agree. Also I think 18 more women recently signed on to the lawsuit.

[TomCat88]

Seems like these cases are difficult to prove for the plaintiff. Does anyone know of other similar cases and how they played out?

[coloradocat]

Seems like these cases are difficult to prove for the plaintiff. Does anyone know of other similar cases and how they played out?

Based on the addition of 18 more women I assume they're shooting for a settlement. Overwhelm the defendants with plaintiffs and every allegation you can think up in a public lawsuit and cash in. More than half of what was in the original article either wasn't illegal or can't be proved so they're hoping to just embarrass the school into paying $$$ to make this go away.

[Cataholic]

More women join lawsuit against UM.

https://missoulian.com/news/local/12-mo ... 4b05e.html

[RickRund]

More women join lawsuit against UM.

https://missoulian.com/news/local/12-mo ... 4b05e.html

It just keeps getting better and better over there...