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Ryerson University staffer widely recognized for anti-racism work is accusing the university of anti-Black racism, discrimination based on gender and disability, harassment and reprisal after she was fired while on medical leave. New from @ShreeParadkar: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2020/08/21/they-were-out-to-fire-me-ryerson-staffer-honoured-for-anti-racism-work-accuses-university-of-anti-black-racism.html?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=SocialMedia&utm_campaign=OpinionStaff&utm_content=theywereouttofireme
Carol Sutherland was hired by Ryerson in 2004 and fired in January 2019 “for misappropriating sick leave, and for frustrating and/or misusing the complaints process,” according to her termination letter. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2020/08/21/they-were-out-to-fire-me-ryerson-staffer-honoured-for-anti-racism-work-accuses-university-of-anti-black-racism.html?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=SocialMedia&utm_campaign=OpinionStaff&utm_content=theywereouttofireme
She told the Star her medical leaves were necessitated by work stress from a string of issues, including being picked on for small errors, berated for her clothing, accused of being too loud. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2020/08/21/they-were-out-to-fire-me-ryerson-staffer-honoured-for-anti-racism-work-accuses-university-of-anti-black-racism.html?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=SocialMedia&utm_campaign=OpinionStaff&utm_content=theywereouttofireme
She says her boss "threatened to send me home for the way I was dressed, saying he ‘has an image to uphold in the office.'" This is a photo of Sutherland she says was taken by a co-worker on April 20, 2018, the day her boss threatened to send her home. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2020/08/21/they-were-out-to-fire-me-ryerson-staffer-honoured-for-anti-racism-work-accuses-university-of-anti-black-racism.html?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=SocialMedia&utm_campaign=OpinionStaff&utm_content=theywereouttofireme
In one instance, Sutherland says she was asked if she was practising Obeah — a Caribbean spiritual healing practice — when using a humidifier in her office. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2020/08/21/they-were-out-to-fire-me-ryerson-staffer-honoured-for-anti-racism-work-accuses-university-of-anti-black-racism.html?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=SocialMedia&utm_campaign=OpinionStaff&utm_content=theywereouttofireme
Sutherland has won several awards for her work at the university, including the Alan Shepard Award for advancing equity. She was also featured in the book, “100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women — 2016.” https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2020/08/21/they-were-out-to-fire-me-ryerson-staffer-honoured-for-anti-racism-work-accuses-university-of-anti-black-racism.html?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=SocialMedia&utm_campaign=OpinionStaff&utm_content=theywereouttofireme
"They were out to fire me." Sutherland’s accusations are the subject of grievances filed by her union prior to the global reckoning of systemic anti-Black racism. A hearing is slated for next month. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2020/08/21/they-were-out-to-fire-me-ryerson-staffer-honoured-for-anti-racism-work-accuses-university-of-anti-black-racism.html?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=SocialMedia&utm_campaign=OpinionStaff&utm_content=theywereouttofireme
All the documents mentioned in the below article have been seen by the Star. The Star also put these allegations to Ryerson, which declined to comment.
Read the full story from @ShreeParadkar here: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2020/08/21/they-were-out-to-fire-me-ryerson-staffer-honoured-for-anti-racism-work-accuses-university-of-anti-black-racism.html?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=SocialMedia&utm_campaign=OpinionStaff&utm_content=theywereouttofireme
Read the full story from @ShreeParadkar here: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2020/08/21/they-were-out-to-fire-me-ryerson-staffer-honoured-for-anti-racism-work-accuses-university-of-anti-black-racism.html?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=SocialMedia&utm_campaign=OpinionStaff&utm_content=theywereouttofireme
