Gallaudet University Diversity Official Questions her Suspension
ByThe chief diversity officer who faced suspension for signing a petition to put Maryland's same-sex marriage law on ballot has spoken out after days remaining mum on the issue.
Dr Angela McCaskill has said that the university's decision to put her on a leave was 'utterly wrong' and now she wants the school to reinstate her and is seeking compensation from the university for marring her reputation.
"They have attempted to intimidate me," McCaskill said referring to the university officials. "They have tarnished my reputation and 24 years of service. This situation has spiraled out of control."
McCaskill, the first deaf African American to earn a doctorate from Gallaudet, was speaking at a news conference at Maryland State House in Annapolis through an interpreter. She was joined by both the parties, those who support and oppose same-sex marriage.
She also cleared her stand saying that she is not anti-gay, but believes in exercising her political rights.
"The students are watching. The world is watching," she said, "I ask that the administration makes the right decision and rights their wrongs."
Gallaudet University President T. Alan Hurwitz placed McCaskill on an administrative leave last week to evaluate whether her actions were appropriate with respect to her position as the diversity official of the university, following a tip by a faculty member that McCaskill's name was signed on the petition.
"I'm dismayed that Gallaudet University is still a university of intolerance, of management by intimidation, which allows bullying among faculty, staff and students," she said, reports PinkNews.
Hurwitz released a statement Tuesday saying explicitly that he would like to reinstate Dr McCaskill, but only after evaluation.
But McCaskill's attorney said that he is doubtful of president's sincerity.
Meanwhile, an ad featuring McCaskill put together by Maryland Marriage Alliance is doing rounds on television has irked the school officials who have asked the group to take it down.
"The video they are using, the ad, is actually copyrighted by us," said Katherine Murphy, executive director of communications and public relations at Gallaudet in Washington, reports Baltimore Sun.
"We're in touch with our attorneys to have them follow up with the group to ask them to take down the ad."
McCaskill's attorney has made it clear that his client has not given her consent to be mentioned in the political ad and her signing of the petition and her opinion on gay marriage are entirely two different issues.