Gallaudet University announced Monday that it had reinstated its chief diversity officer, Dr. Angela McCaskill, after she was placed on paid administrative leave in October for signing a church petition against Maryland’s gay marriage law.
“With this communication I am announcing that Dr. Angela McCaskill has returned to campus to resume her full-time duties and responsibilities as Chief Diversity Officer,” Gallaudet President T. Alan Hurwitz said in a university-wide email obtained by the Washington Blade.
According to Hurwitz, McCaskill’s suspension was prompted by concerns raised by gay and lesbian students on campus who felt it was inappropriate for the campus diversity officer to push for a ballot measure seeking to deny their right to marry.
His decision, however, was criticized by both proponents and opponents of Maryland’s gay marriage law, which was successfully upheld in a voter referendum this past November. Maryland, along with Maine and Washington, became one of the first states to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote with the first licenses issued midnight on New Year’s Day.
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“During the past three months a large number of you have taken the initiative to communicate with me,” Hurwitz said in his email. “This has been a period of reflection for all of us. I am deeply appreciative of the time you have taken to communicate your views, of the clearly heartfelt manner in which you have expressed those thoughts, and of the overall maturity you have shown in your willingness to consider the differing views others may hold.”
McCaskill had previously sought, in addition to reinstatement to her position, compensation from Gallaudet for damage to her reputation. Hurwitz didn’t state if McCaskill’s reinstatement came with any conditions, while university spokesperson Kaitlin Luna said there are “legal matters” the university was not at liberty to discuss.
“The work of the University’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion is vital and must continue in an active and vibrant way,” Hurwitz added. “I personally look forward to working with Dr. McCaskill on the work of that office.”
2eo
Is it okay to point out that her definition of diversity is solely colour orientated and that she is a bigoted, hateful r@cist unfit for her duties under any circumstances?
Or would pointing out reality be considered wrong for some reason.
Cam
So if she had signed a petition that said that Asians shouldn’t be allowed to vote would she have been reinstated?
How is this woman going to treat a gay student having trouble when she is obviously quite bigoted against them.
2eo
@Cam: Don’t be silly, gays aren’t people.
sfbeast
in addition to being a bigot, who should not have been reinstated, i didn’t know she was also a singer (as per the headline)
petensfo
Well, suffice it to say… I’m disappointed. I gotta believe that this is a legal
mess and the University has measured the cost of a lawsuit vs. retention with oversight.
Either way, ‘diversity’ has lost.
Eric Auerbach
What a tone-deaf decision by this university. I am left speechless; in fact, I’m so angry I can barely speak. Why weren’t there any hearings at the university about this? Aren’t the people a Gallaudet listening to the backlash? Their reaction has been very muted; why don’t they speak out against homophobia?
kingkuy
@2eo: even in that instance you’d be assuming she cared about minorities
i doubt she cares about anyone other than herself
Merv
@Eric Auerbach: It’s a sign of the times.
BJ McFrisky
I personally am not familiar with the song “Anti-gay Marriage Petition,” but for Chrissakes, let the woman sing whatever songs she wants.
2eo
@kingkuy: She cares enough to condone treating large sections of the population as second class.
There’s an irony joke in their somewhere.
ChiChi Man
I just don’t understand how this person got her job back. This is an employment issue. She is not qualified to do her job. She’s not simply a university employee: her job is to represent the interests of all diverse students and she clearly does not. How will any gay student feel comfortable talking to her about marriage equality when they know that she is against it?
Would a fur company hire a model who poses for PETA ads?
ChiChi Man
Oh yeah, and please tell the lady to stop singing!
Ogre Magi
@Eric Auerbach: I see what you did there!
Avenger
Congratulations to this woman for getting her job back. Looks like the Rainbow nazi’s didn’t whine loud enough for this one.
ChiChi Man
@Avenger: We’ll win the next one. Don’t you worry.
Geoff B
It may be her right to sign whatever petition she wants to. It is also my right to say she is a bigoted cunt and I hope she kills herself. The First Amendment works both ways.
Raquel Santiago
Ok, like most issues, I see BOTH sides to this. She may be a diversity officer but she also has the right to her own opinion on gay marriage. Hell, i know people in our community who are against gay marriage because of the political route it has taken in different years are we then going to criticize our community for their beliefs? As we request community acceptance we must also be accepting.
Sapphireone
This despicable human being needs to go. She CANNOT simultaneously oppose civil rights AND promote/protect diversity. She made her choice, and she chose hate. That’s fine — but the price should be her job.
1EqualityUSA
Raquel is maggie gallagher. Go away Maggie.
1EqualityUSA
Here’s a National Review article written my Mags that harkens back to post #17 as well.
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/337393/extraordinary-french-rebellion-against-gay-marriage-maggie-gallagher
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