Ex-professor who was denied tenure sues university and a former dean

By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A former assistant professor of engineering at Youngstown State University has filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the university and a former dean, seeking reinstatement, back pay and more.
John H. George, 56, of Canfield, hired by YSU in its mechanical engineering technology program in the College of Engineering and Technology in 2000, said the university and Cynthia S. Hirtzel, former dean of the college, discriminated against him in their denial of his request for tenure.
The lawsuit, filed Dec. 13 with the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, alleges discrimination by race, sex and age.
"I feel I have a very strong case," said George, who was fired by the university in May of this year.
The university dismisses those to whom it has denied tenure.
The lawsuit says that George was on the tenure track at YSU and signed a tenure track contract with the university in September 2005.
That same month, the majority of the tenured faculty in the School of Technology recommended support for his bid for tenure, and the chairman of his department, Dr. William Wood, recommended tenure as well, according to the court filing.
Recommendations against
However, in October 2005, Hirtzel recommended against tenure, the lawsuit said, and, that same month, Provost Robert Herbert also recommended against tenure.
In November 2005, the School of Technology faculty recommended support for George to be promoted to associate professor, the lawsuit said, but that same month, YSU President David C. Sweet didn't award him tenure -- effectively blocking his application for promotion.
The court filing said George appealed the denial of tenure in December 2005 and a three-member Tenure Appeal Committee unanimously recommended in February 2006 that he be awarded tenure. However, in May 2006, George received a letter from Sweet again denying tenure and he was terminated that same month, the lawsuit said.
New hiring category cited
George said in the filing that he learned in March 2006 that the university had instituted a special hiring category, originally for blacks but later expanded to include Hispanics, that created five faculty position slots designated as minority only. Around that same time, he said he also learned that Hirtzel had told others that her goal was to get new faces into the College of Engineering and Technology.
He said he learned in April 2006 that his position had been targeted as one of those slots.
Other information he received indicated that Hirtzel wanted to fill his position with a racial minority and/or a younger individual, the lawsuit said.
His lawsuit identifies George as a "Caucasian male."
George filed a charge of discrimination with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in April 2006 and he received a "Right to Sue" letter from the EEOC in September.
YSU's decision to deny him tenure and effectively terminate his employment "was based on illegal criteria, including George's race, sex and/or age," the lawsuit said.
What's sought
The suit asks for his reinstatement, back pay, compensatory damages, punitive damages and legal fees and costs.
Hirtzel, who is currently on medical leave from the university and will no longer be dean when she returns, couldn't be reached to comment.
A university spokesman said YSU hadn't received a copy of the suit as of Monday and declined to comment on the filing. However, the spokesman did say that the EEOC had investigated George's complaint and dismissed it, ruling that there was no probable cause for action.
gwin@vindy.com