The inclusion of sex discrimination in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act has been around since 1964, making it incredibly shocking when instances of sexual harassment occur. But if you’ve been paying attention to the news like we have, then you know that these cases do happen, even in Minnesota, and they can have a serious impact on all parties involved.
For many people living here in St. Paul, the University of Minnesota is held in high regards and considered one of the last places a sexual harassment incident would occur. It’s because of this opinion that many people across the state were surprised to hear that ex-athletic director Norwood Teague was being accused of sexually harassing two high-level U of M employees.
Reported on by the many media sources in the state, including MPR News, the alleged sexual harassment occurred during a senior leadership retreat for the university. According to a statement made by Teague, his behavior was due in part to having “entirely too much to drink,” saying that he “behaved badly towards nice people.” Despite his admission, the incident needed to be reported to the university and has since led to Teague’s resignation.
As our readers may or may not know, sexual harassment is considered a form of sex discrimination, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and can lead to legal actions. Legal proceedings can be very emotional for victims but can lead to negative consequences for the offender. Seeking legal representation in workplace discrimination cases is considered a good idea and highly advised in a majority of cases.