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UC Settles Pay Equity Suit
(from Chronicle of Higher Education, 5/23/97, and Association of
Women in Mathematics Newsletter, 7/8/97, Black Issues in Higher
Education, 6/12/97, and Daily Bruin , 5/14/97)
The University and Yolanda Broyles-Gonzalez, who is a full
professor of Chicano Studies and German at UCSB, have agreed to
settle her discrimination suit. Professor Broyles-Gonzalez charged
that she was paid less than comparable men and that she was denied
reappointment as chair of her department because she had supported a
student strike and her colleague, Rudy Acu's, successful discrimination suit (see Newsletter, Fall 1996). Thesettlement will include an unprecedented permanent injunctionprotecting her against gender, race and political discrimination as
well as against retaliation by the University.
In addition to the injunction, Broyles-Gonzalez' settlement
will provide in excess of $100,000 for damages, costs and fees for
her attorneys, Moises Vasquez and Robert Racine. Perhaps most
important to Broyles-Gonzalez, she succeeded in challenging the
inequalities of gender and race and also rejected the University's
customary demand that she keep her victory a secret (see Editorial,
page 6). She has spoken widely on the issue of discrimination against
women in academia since bringing suit against UC, emphasizing that
"This should serve as an inspiration to other women who experience
the same practice and patterns of discrimination. I know I have been
inspired by those who challenged inequality before me."
In UC's press release on the settlement, attorney David
Birnbaum denied any wrongdoing by the University and stated that the
University wanted an amicable agreement. "She's going to be with us
for a long time," he said. If that signals a change in UC's approach
to discrimination cases, it will make a big difference to University
women who are inspired by Professor Broyles-Gonzalez to seek equal
treatment.
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