Opinion ID: 784482
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Hayut Complains To SUNY New Paltz

Text: 11 In early December 1998, prior to the final exam period, Hayut visited Dean Varbero to complain about Professor Young's conduct. Hayut's friend Merante proposed the meeting with Dean Varbero as Merante wanted to voice numerous complaints of her own about Professor Young's teaching style, including his classroom temperament, his alleged unfair treatment of the students, and his dictatorial teaching style. During the course of the meeting, Merante mentioned Professor Young's Monica statements. Dean Varbero turned to Hayut to inquire and Hayut confirmed that she felt Professor Young had harassed her with the Monica comments. Dean Varbero then discussed Hayut's allegations with her for over one hour. He said that, if true, Professor Young's conduct would be viewed by the administration as a serious matter. And he also referred Hayut to Professor Brownstein who, because of his position in Professor Young's immediate chain of command, would have a particular interest in this matter. According to Merante, Dean Varbero specifically instructed Hayut to report Young's conduct to Professor Brownstein. Although this was an informal avenue of redress, Dean Varbero made clear to Hayut that if she was at all dissatisfied with Professor Brownstein's response, she was to report back to Dean Varbero for action. Dean Varbero also indicated that, in accordance with school policy, if Hayut sought more formal action, she would ultimately need to reduce her complaint to writing. 3 12 Merante recalled that Dean Varbero took the additional step of attempting to contact Professor Brownstein in order to arrange an appointment on Hayut's behalf. Professor Brownstein's secretary told Dean Varbero that, because students were taking final exams during that week, Professor Brownstein was not holding regular office hours and his availability was unpredictable. The secretary suggested that Hayut should simply visit Professor Brownstein's office. Hayut agreed to do so and left Dean Varbero's office. 13 Hayut went to Professor Brownstein's office but found him unavailable. She waited briefly and then left without indicating the nature of her visit or asking that Professor Brownstein contact her about the matter. Hayut maintains that she subsequently returned to Professor Brownstein's office but, again, found him unavailable. At no time did Hayut make further contact with Dean Varbero to discuss her inability to meet with Professor Brownstein or any possible dissatisfaction with how her informal complaint was being handled by the administration. 14 Hayut did not actually speak with Professor Brownstein until late January 1999, when she met with him to discuss her Spring 1999 class schedule. During this meeting, Hayut told Professor Brownstein of Professor Young's conduct. She did not, however, submit a written complaint to him or to anyone else. Nor did she make any other effort to pursue her verbal complaint with other members of the administration. After hearing about Professor Young's conduct, Professor Brownstein echoed Dean Varbero's advice that Hayut should submit a written complaint. 15 Despite Hayut's failure to re-visit Dean Varbero, Dean Varbero himself had notified Professor Brownstein and Dean Benjamin of the matter. And, on February 11, 1999, before Hayut submitted a written complaint, a number of college officials including Dean Benjamin, Dean Varbero, Professor Brownstein, Gail Gallerie, the Executive Assistant to SUNY New Paltz's President, and Grace Pell, SUNY New Paltz's Affirmative Action Officer (AAO), attended a meeting to discuss Professor Young's conduct. All officials agreed that Young's contract with SUNY New Paltz entitled him to written notice of the charges before SUNY could initiate any formal process and, if appropriate, impose disciplinary measures. 4 Likewise, SUNY New Paltz's internal grievance procedures required that, if formal action was sought through the Affirmative Action Office, all grievances of this sort had to be submitted by the claimant in writing to the AAO within 45 days of the discriminatory act. The various university officials readily agreed that, if true, the allegations were sufficiently serious to warrant a formal response. 16 On February 16, 1999, after the Spring 1999 semester had begun, Hayut delivered a written complaint to Professor Brownstein. 5 The day after receiving the written complaint, Dean Benjamin, Dean Varbero, and Professor Brownstein convened a counseling session with Young to address matters raised in the complaint. Young admitted to having made the remarks. He indicated at that counseling session that the Monica comments had been intended only as jokes, although he later conceded during a deposition in connection with this action that the Monica statements were also intended as a form of discipline, uttered when Hayut was disrupting the class by talking or eating. Dean Benjamin informed Professor Young that the matter would be taken seriously. Part of the administration's response, according to Dean Benjamin, included a formal letter to Professor Young emphasizing what behavior the school expected of its professors and explaining what actions Dean Benjamin would take. 17 Within days of the counseling session, Professor Young, who had nearly thirty years of teaching experience, discussed the possibility of retirement. Dean Benjamin agreed that Young's voluntary departure from SUNY New Paltz would be in the best interest of all parties. On March 18, 1999, Young tendered his resignation, which was promptly accepted. 18 Hayut had enrolled in various classes for the Spring 1999 semester, none of which were taught by Professor Young. Hayut admits she had no further contact with Professor Young and suffered no harassment from him after conclusion of the Fall 1998 semester. Sometime after delivering her written complaint, Hayut simply stopped attending classes. This led to her receiving failing grades in all courses for that semester. Hayut attempted to transfer to Pace University (Pace) for the upcoming Fall 1999 semester, but — due to her poor academic performance at SUNY — was unable to do so without first completing one year of remedial education.