You know, I just came across something that's drawing a lot of attention in higher education circles, and it really caught my eye. According to CalMatters Housing, the California State University system recently settled a discrimination lawsuit for twelve million dollars. Two women who worked as administrators at Cal State San Bernardino claimed they experienced harassment and gender-based discrimination from the university president and a former dean. The settlement is happening even as the university continues to deny any wrongdoing in the matter.
Here's what makes this particularly interesting from an institutional standpoint. The outgoing president of Cal State San Bernardino, Tomás Morales, is now being considered for a transition position within the Cal State system. The board of trustees was set to review and potentially approve his emeritus status, which would allow him to continue working as a faculty member while the university covers his salary and benefits. He was earning over six hundred fifty thousand dollars in annual compensation during his final year. This is happening despite his connection to the discrimination claims.
The two women at the center of this, Clare Weber and Anissa Rogers, both held significant administrative roles. According to the reporting, when they raised concerns about gender-based pay disparities and workplace treatment during the 2021-22 school year, they faced immediate pressure to resign. Rogers agreed to step down under duress, while Weber refused and was terminated instead. Their lawsuit described systemic issues of sexist bullying throughout the system.
The allegations paint a picture of longstanding problems under Morales' leadership. Past employee surveys and faculty resolutions of no confidence indicated concerns about workplace culture, bullying, and retaliation going back years. One survey showed over sixty percent of employees felt the campus climate deteriorated during his tenure. Even before coming to Cal State San Bernardino, similar no-confidence votes were filed against him when he led another institution.
What I am seeing locally is that these kinds of situations really underscore how important it is for organizations to take workplace concerns seriously and act transparently. In the real estate and business communities here in the Bay Area, reputation and trustworthiness matter enormously. When institutions handle these matters poorly, it affects everyone's confidence in the system.
