Again, prime example: Bonnie Bleskachek, who demanded sex from her subordinates, retaliated against those who refused, discriminated against those who she wasn’t interested in sexually, and, when caught, blamed the whole thing on “homophobia and sexism” — that is, she was only being investigated because she was a lesbian and female.

So, given your views, I trust you share my opposition for ENDA?

I do indeed.

“The public position Ms. Dixon took in the Toledo Free Press is in direct contradiction to University policies and procedures, as well as the institutional core values as defined in our strategic plan, and called into question her continued ability to lead a critical function within the administration as personnel actions or decisions taken in her capacity as associate vice president for human resources could be challenged or placed at risk,” Burn said in the statement.

The above is taken from the Toledo Free Press website and is a statement made by a “Univeristy of Toledo spokesman.”

We do not know what University policies and procedure Dixon violated. There could be a slam-dunk case for her firing there. However, she was offered a demotion and pay cut, which she refused and she was subsequently fired. Therefore, I suspect the University does not have a slam-dunk case related to policies and procedures.

“Institutional core values” is the arena of Jello wrestling and touchy-feely bruised egos. As nearly as I can tell from her column, she is being fired for saying that homosexual actions are not a civil right and that homosexuals can choose not to engage in homosexual actions.

It will be interesting to see how those views contradict “institutional core values.” Would that not, in effect, mean that the University of Toledo considers homosexual activity to have the protection of a civil right and that homosexual actions are an unrestrained compulsion not able to be modified or restrained by choice or free will?

The fact that Dixon was paid nearly $135,000 per year to administer issues revolving around human relations does not mean that her views caused her to handle issues with homosexuals in a biased or unfair manner. That would have to be proven by a sufficient weight of evidence.

Dixon was fired for holding unpopular views that were deemed by the University to be damaging to their mission. The UT spokesman, Mr. Burn, says her views could call her ability to lead into question.

Job effectiveness is always a grounds for dismissal or reassignment. But it usually requires documentation and evidence beyond an instance of expressing an unpopular view point. It would appear that the University of Toledo has acted in a capricious manner.

Ms. Dixon will probably sue and, I suspect, win a fairly sizable payoff to go away. She will not find it particularly difficult to find a similar position elsewhere, unless there is more lurking in this matter than we have seen.

Let them decide what’s in their best interest. I believe public institutions shouldn’t discriminate based on political viewpoint, sexual orientation or other group identification.

So, given your views, I trust you share my opposition for ENDA?

Depending on the position you hold, your off-site behavior bears on the question of whether you’re doing your job. As an HR manager, for example, it is your job to not publicly shame your employer, even on your own time.

The First Amendment rights of public employees are not absolute; indeed, our law permits public employees to be fired even for work-related comments. See Garcetti v. Ceballos, 547 U.S. 410 (2006).

Her remarks were pretty loony, but the question is whether she’s doing here job. And the issue here is that she’s working for a public institution, not a private one. And public institutions must needs establish different standards.

Were she working for a private university, the issue would be different altogether.

She does so as a private citizen, in a public forum that is not related to her job.

That won’t keep you from being fired. If you make public remarks, or engage in public behavior, that brings your character into question or that reflects poorly on your employer, you’re likely to be fired.

Let’s say a hospital learns that one of its pediatric nurses is working a second job as a prostitute. The nurse stands a good chance of being fired.

Depending on the nature of your work, your employer has a legtitimate interest in your off-site conduct.

Yeah, Churchill was fired for plagiarism and lying on his resume I believe.

And, to me, thats a huge problem when a university can’t fire a professor with insane views because of some wrongheaded belief that the first amendment gives teachers the “right” to say whatever they want.

HUGE problem. The first amendment doesn’t extend to the point that it interferes with your job performance — be it the private or public sector.

Let people with differing opinions speak, so that we can have a real open discussions.

Oh sure! You can “dissent” as long as it’s vetted and approved by party Komisars at the university. You can have a “differing opinion” as long as the liberal left likes it. I’d bet anything she was fired more for her religious position than anything else. If she were a Muslim, I’d bet a year’s pay she would have been promoted.

There’s not much liberals fear more than religion.

And a. mcwen in #3, I don’t think she gave the impression that she was working for the university.

David, I would agree with your comment in #7 if she had been working for a private company. Since you seem to agree it was right to fire her because of her social viewpoints, do you then believe private companies should be able to hire and fire whomever they please.

As to your comment in #5, do you have information which would back up your comment that her job was outreach to campus minority groups and evidence that she didn’t reach out to gay groups on campus.

Since this is a public university, the issue is whether she did her job.

By the way, this is my first time at your blog, and I have got to give you credit. It takes a lot of guts to come out as a gay conservative.

Remember Ward Churchill?

Wasn’t he fired for misrepresenting his credentials and plaigerism?

She sure is. Just not when she is the paid spokesperson for a company’s diversity outreach. She is now free to speak at will, and look for other employment.

Wow, this is amazing. A women expresses a personal opinion that the PC police don’t like. She does so as a private citizen, in a public forum that is not related to her job.
For all we know she is excellent at her job and never has said anything like this while at work.

But because she dared speak her mind, she deserves to be fired???

What did I miss about freedom of speech?

Here’s why i cannot wake up tomorrow and not be a black woman.

and that was a written statement! To a newspaper for cryingn out loud.

I disagree with a number of those view points and I stated at least on the face of it.

Say what?And that man, the president of a university, is undoubtedly getting 6 figures a year!

While I don’t agree that the woman should have been dismissed for her statement (indeed she has a valid point taking offense to gays compairing their so-called “struggle” to what black America has been through), I do think the University had the right to fire her.

Also, I think it essential that colleges and universities retain the ability to fire employees for their statements and conduct. Remember Ward Churchill? Funny how much more difficult it was to get rid of him.

(Crickets chirping)

What’s next? Gulags and reeducation camps? Sheesh.

Regards,
Peter H.