A professor said her work was affected after an associate professor at Ramapo College called her a "fat b----."
MAHWAH -- The state agreed with Ramapo College that an associate professor violated workplace discrimination laws when she made a crude comment.
The associate professor, identified only by the initials "M.V." in the state civil service commission's decision, was accused of calling her colleague a "fat b----" during a Law and Society Convening Group meeting.
The female professor who made the complaint filed a complaint in 2014, stating that she was subjected to sex and gender discrimination and further retaliation after "M.V." called her a "bully" and a "tattletale."
It's not clear if M.V. has been formally punished for her comments by the college. A college spokeswoman did not immediately have a comment.
An investigation by the college's Office of Affirmative Action and Workplace Compliance determined that M.V. violated state policy with her crude comment, but that there was nothing to substantiate the claim of retaliation.
The professor who made the complaint argued that her work has been affected because she has not been able to attend the meetings when M.V. is present.
M.V. argued she was not properly interviewed for the investigation and that a one-time use of "flippant language," should not be considered harassment. Further, she argued that her behavior was not sexual in nature.
M.V. did not deny saying the comment, but said she was referring to another, unnamed person who was not present at the meeting. The investigation found that M.V. was looking at the professor who made the complaint when she made the comment.
A lawyer named for M.V. didn't return a request for comment.
In November, a female professor who is black, filed a discrimination lawsuit against Ramapo, alleging that she was passed over for positions despite almost two decades of experience.
Sara Jerde may be reached at sjerde@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SaraJerde.