Discrimination case against La Salle goes to trial

By Sam Fran Scavuzzo
Collegian Editor
January 23, 2008

A discrimination charge filed by a former Iranian-American department chair at La Salle’s School of Business will be argued before an open court this week, ruled a Pennsylvania District Court. 

Dr. Madjid Tavana, the former chair of the university’s Management Department, alleges that La Salle unreasonably discriminated against him on three separate instances. He is seeking an appropriate position and more than $150,000 in back pay and damages. This past week, the case went to trail by jury under the jurisdiction of U.S. District Judge J. Curtis Joyner.

According to court records, Tavana, who is a Muslim, claims La Salle failed to reappoint him to the position of chair, failed to consider him for position of dean and unfairly gave him a two-year (instead of a four-year) Lindback Professorship grant because of discrimination. 

A professor at La Salle since 1984, Tavana claims former Dean of the Business School Gregory Bruce said to him that “it seems like all Iranians have a problem with authority” and that Provost Dr. Richard Nigro “did not appreciate [Tavana] leading a one man jihad against him.” 

La Salle — which denies all claims — moved for all charges to be dropped. Joyner ruled in favor of the university on the claim regarding a four-year fellowship in November. However, he wrote that the other motions were to be denied, and the La Salle would face a January court date. 

University spokesman Jon Caroulis said the university had no comment on matters under pending litigation. Tavana similarly declined to comment and his lawyer Margaret Sherry Lurio did not return calls.

The situation is not unique to La Salle. Since 9/11, many Muslim academics have reported acts of discrimination. 

“As tensions have increased between the U.S. and Iran, we have noticed higher rates of discriminatory practices such as those alleged by Mr. Tavana,” Director of Community Relations for the National Iranian American Council Babak Talebi said. “This occurs despite the fact that Iranian-Americans are among the most highly educated, productive and integrated immigrant communities in the U.S.” 

Laila Al-Qatami, the communications director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimin-ation Committee concured with this view.

“The types of cases reported to us run the gamut, and we did have reports of employees who had been receiving good performance reviews be subjected to a hostile work environment after 9/11.,” she said. “Employment discrimination claims make up a majority of cases reported to our legal department.”

After being denied reappointment in 2004, Tavana filed a complaint with President of the Faculty Senate Dr. Elizabeth Paulin claiming that his rejection was retaliation for several differences he had with Nigro and Bruce.  

“The actions of Bruce and Dr. Nigro have been harassing and discriminatory...[and] have arbitrarily caused the loss of compensation and maliciously tarnished my reputation,” said Tavana in his complaint. 

Nigro claimed that Tavana should no longer be chair because he served for 12 years. Additionally, La Salle stated that Tavana was removed because he alienated talented faculty, failed to cooperate with Bruce’s instructions and requests, and exhibited insulting and demeaning behavior toward Bruce and Nigro. 

Appeals to the University Grievance Committee and President Brother Michael McGinniss were denied, leading Tavana to file a grievance with the university’s Affirmative Action Officer in 2005. 

Before an investigation was completed by the university, Tavana filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. 

Throughout the internal struggle within La Salle’s bureaucracy, Tavana applied to become the new dean of the School of Business after Bruce resigned from the position in August 2005. This led to the second level of Tavana’s lawsuit. 

A search committee that included then-interim Dean Dr. Paul Brazina reviewed his application. By November of the same year, Tavana was informed that he would not be considered a finalist.  

In 2006, after the committees’ initial choice for dean withdrew his application, Tavana reapplied for the dean’s position. Again he was denied. 

In October 2007, Brazina was named dean. 

Born in Iran, Tavana is a naturalized citizen residing in Voorhees, N.J. He attended Tehran Business College, received his MBA from La Salle, a Ph.D from American and a post-Ph.D from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to teaching at La Salle, Tavana is the editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Applied Decision Sciences and previously worked for NASA. 

For the current term, Tavana has been on a prearranged sabbatical, according to Brazina. 

“There is nothing unusual about the sabbatical or the timing of the sabbatical. This is a time for research and academic renewal,” Brazina said. 

The case should be finalized with a verdict this week.

scavuzzof1@lasalle.edu