Why do we pay for these lawsuits? This is insanity, we subsidize the school, we pay salaries, pensions, health care, and now we pay the Attorney Generals office to defend them in Discrimination lawsuits? How many millions have we paid to do this? Maybe we should ask AG Cuomo or the former AG now Governor Spitzer. What a viscous circle.

DISCRIMINATION LAWSUITS INCREASING AGAINST SUNY RAISING SERIOUS CONCERNS FOR MINORITIES

NY TAXPAYERS PAYING FOR IT

The battle to stop discrimination from continuing at the University at Buffalo moved to a new arena recently. a courtroom at taxpayers expense.

Ms. Moshenko, who has worked as the sole staff person for nearly 18 years at the Great Lakes Program at the State University of New York at Buffalo filed suit in Federal Court in Buffalo against her employer and two male professors involved.

The lawsuit alleges the administration at SUNY Buffalo failed to address the problem of harassment for months by a male professor. After Ms. Moshenko, also a New York State employee, requested help and assistance from her boss and other administrators including Scott Weber,k Chair of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering for harassment to stop. Instead her appointment was not renewed. Ms. Moshenko’s long time career ended a week after reporting to Office of Equity, Diversity and Affirmative Action at UB. The workplace became such a hostile setting to be and work in, Ms. Moshenko was placed on medical leave due to complications from immense stress induced there, which has resulted in affecting her physical health.

“I am still shaking my head in disbelief at what happened to me,” said Ms. Moshenko. “Who would have thought that I would loose my job because I stood up against discrimination in the workplace, especially an educational workplace that boasts diversity, and acceptance.” Moshenko said, “As a single mother of son with autism and well known advocate for people with disabilities, I couldn’t imagine that my employer would be as hostile to me as Chair of the Disability Committee for the UUP-Buffalo. When I began asking for Rehab plans from a six year old ADA lawsuit, it was an eye opener to see how SUNY-Buffalo employees reacted or didn’t, which created further hostile environment against me.”
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Ms. Moshenko hopes that people that have been victims of discrimination at SUNY Buffalo are not alone and should stand up against this. “If people don’t stand up, discrimination will continue to go on at SUNY-Buffalo behind the mask of an educational system that blatantly disregards laws enacted to protect people against discrimination.” Currently there are four other lawsuits for discrimination against State University of New York at Buffalo. Unfortunately other victims of discrimination face the same challenges in acquiring an attorney to represent them, and to pay for it while the people that are alleged to have been the reason for the lawsuit due to discriminatory acts are provided free legal counsel and support through the NY Attorney General’s Office all at taxpayers expense.

In the past, 28 people have filed claims of discrimination for race, religion, gender and disability against SUNY.

There is a big price to pay for anyone that takes on the SUNY system, as Ms. Moshenko has applied for numerous positions at her previous employer, SUNY - Buffalo, but has not been contacted for an interview, despite years of excellent work experience and being well known in the community. She has requested copies of personal records numerous times through FOIL but has had many roadblocks by SUNY in providing this information to her.

It is also important to note that NYS Attorney General’s Office automatically represents employees (defendants) of SUNY who have complaints filed against them for discrimination, costing NYS taxpayers thousands of dollars in litigation fees and settlements. These settlements are quietly agreed to behind closed doors, but take years in courts escalating the costs that the NYS Attorney General’s office charges which NYS taxpayers absorb. For the plaintiff in the case, usually an employee of the State that has been discriminated against, has to find an attorney that is able and willing to represent them against SUNY. Most cases can last between three and five years before settlement is reached and mediation is usually not even attempted. Unfortunately discrimination continues to go on behind the educational walls throughout New York State.

Ms. Moshenko said, “Can you imagine working nearly 20 years at the same office, pleading for help when harassment takes place, loosing your job and then SUNY has their legal army in Albany fighting you - amazing.” Ms. Moshenko believes this battle can be won against the educational giant and discrimination must end in SUNY and taxpayers won’t be paying the bill for discriminatory acts at SUNY.

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