DePauw facing lawsuit with religion aspect

By Lynne DeMichele
Hoosier UM News Editor

A year-long dispute involving an instructor who had provided her students with copies of a conservative Christian magazine has evolved into a lawsuit against UM-related DePauw University in Greencastle. The magazine at issue, "Teachers in Focus," published by conservative advocacy group Focus on the Family, contained an article on "Gay Activism in Schools."

The conflict began last year when one of the instructor's students filed a complaint with the dean of the faculty about what he saw as the magazine's anti-gay bias.

Janis K. Price, the plaintiff in a lawsuit filed last April 17 in Putnam County, is primarily an administrator in DePauw's Education Department but had been teaching a single course for education students until last year when she was not reassigned to the class. At the same time her work load was reduced to essentially a half-time position.

The complaint

In her lawsuit, Price charges that the university administration had taken "inappropriate disciplinary action" against her, thus creating "an abusive work environment" when she received a formal reprimand from the faculty dean and was not reassigned to the class she had been teaching for the previous 13 years.

The lawsuit is asking for reinstatement of Price's teaching duty and restoration of her full salary. It also calls for the university's dropping any disciplinary action against her.

In a July 17 letter to Price, Dean of the Faculty Neal Abraham, summarizing a previous day's meeting with her, sites a "precipitous decline in student enrollments . in Education" as well as "serious concerns" regarding her teaching performance as reasons for her not receiving the teaching assignment. Abraham's letter alludes to the "Teachers in Focus" magazine, saying it included "provocative and critical material which is very intolerant with regard to issues on which DePauw stands firmly in favor of [which is] an environment of tolerance."

DePauw spokesman Ken Owen told HUM News that the university's actions with regard to Price "have nothing to do with the magazine." Rather, he said, her responsibilities were reduced as a result of downsizing, due to lower enrollments in the education department.

In a phone interview with the HUM News, Price contended that she has had "an exemplary teaching record." She stated that over the years she had been in the habit of making available to her students a number of education-related publications, including "Teachers in Focus," and that there had never been a complaint about it before.

The academic aspect

DePauw President, Robert G. Bottoms insists that the university's teachers "can distribute whatever they like, but [materials] should be presented for academic discussion." Price acknowledged earlier that she had not discussed the contents of the magazine in question with her students.

However, she defended her decision to sue her employer of 15 years, saying, "It's not an issue of the quality of my work. It's about my Christian faith and my position on homosexuality."

In a recent interview, Bottoms disagreed, saying "There are some complex personnel reasonings behind our position which will only be revealed in court." At press time a hearing date had yet to be set.

This case has generated media attention in Indiana and beyond of late, including a recent interview with Price on Evangelist Pat Robertson's TV program "The 700 Club."

"The potential damage to the University's reputation is particularly hurtful to me," Bottoms told HUM News, "because DePauw has worked hard to enhance its relationship with . the Church" He went on to emphasize that religion is discussed openly in classes at the university. "Naturally we have people of all religious persuasions, and sometimes complex issues like homosexuality are volatile on campus, just as they are in open society and in our church."

Last updated on 01/14/2004

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