By MARK HARPER
Staff writer
View article from the Daytona Beach News Journal at http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/EastVolusia/evlEAST04112808.htm
DAYTONA BEACH -- A fired Daytona State College professor intends to sue the school, claiming he was mistreated after urging union representation.
Nicholas Ruiz III, who until October was an associate professor of humanities, will ask for almost $1.5 million in lost wages, compensatory damages and punitive damages, according to court papers.
In documents, he describes "a hostile work environment," negligence, retaliation, harassment and defamation of his reputation, among other issues.
Rand Spiwak, the college's executive vice president, declined Tuesday to comment on Ruiz's allegations.
In the documents, Ruiz includes an e-mail he circulated among faculty members Oct. 23 in which he suggests "it is time" Daytona State's faculty have the United Faculty of Florida represent the faculty in collective bargaining. The college has an inactive, "at-large" chapter of the UFF whose president, Jerry Swanson, recently retired.
A week after Ruiz sent his e-mail, on Oct. 31, college President Kent Sharples fired the second-year professor.
English Department Chairman Evan Rivers and Michael Vitale, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, told Ruiz on Oct. 21 they were recommending his termination because of his refusal to meet with his supervisor and unwillingness to cooperate and work within the college's collaborative environment.
Ruiz denied refusing to meet with his boss. Ruiz contends Rivers asked him to understate his professional goals and activities on a form designed to determine his future employment, tenure and compensation because "he would not like to have the extra work of ensuring that I accomplished all the goals I had listed."
Rivers refused to respond when Ruiz complained the request violated the college's code of conduct and ethics, Ruiz said.
mark.harper@news-jrnl.com
6 comments:
Oh my gosh, I cannot believe I clicked to the blog to read this story at Christmas time.
I am sorry for the pain that this person must feel. Hopefully he will find a way to peaceful situation.
Could the new faculty member have been bi-polar? Could the new faculty member have been a perfectly normal person with an unconscionable boss? Who's terrible here. I don't know. I suppose someone is going to shine a light on it.
Wishing peace, health, love and joy to the faculty brothas and sistas as well everyone in our community family in the new year
You need to read between the lines.
Look at the dates. They were talking about his termination on the 21st. He sends out an email on the 23rd. He gets fired on the
31st. He doesn't have a chance. Read his ratings on Rate my professor.com.
Of course the most studious students consult ratemyprofessor.com for quality instruction. No? Who is using it and what then for?
......And we don't give merit to rate my professor either. Otherwise heaven forbid to instructors teaching challenging subjects.
This professor was horrible and his case against the school was a bunch of lies that is why the lawsuit was dismissed on March 13, 2009. A civil suit that is thrown out 4 months after filing basically means his case was all BS.
Nick Ruiz was a phenomenal philosophy professor. I know nothing of the politics, but I do know that the school is worse off without him. This is a guy (that you can tell from his philosophy class) cares deeply about philosophy and principles, and not much else (apparently, however, to his detriment in this case). Do they want a philosophy professor or a regurgitation machine?
All I know is it would be nice if he were to return the expensive regalia the Student Activities Department loaned him for convocations and graduations. It was supposed to be returned upon him leaving the college ... he signed the agreement.
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