Slatkin v. University of Redlands

106 Cal. Rptr. 2d 480, 88 Cal. App. 4th 1147, 2001 Daily Journal DAR 4507, 2001 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 3690, 2001 Cal. App. LEXIS 341
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedMay 8, 2001
DocketE027170
StatusPublished
Cited by29 cases

This text of 106 Cal. Rptr. 2d 480 (Slatkin v. University of Redlands) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Slatkin v. University of Redlands, 106 Cal. Rptr. 2d 480, 88 Cal. App. 4th 1147, 2001 Daily Journal DAR 4507, 2001 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 3690, 2001 Cal. App. LEXIS 341 (Cal. Ct. App. 2001).

Opinion

Opinion

RICHLI, J.

Academic catfighting or anti-Semitism? Dr. Wendy Slatkin claims the University of Redlands (the University) refused to grant her *1150 tenure because she is Jewish. The University responds that it refused to grant her tenure because of perceived deficiencies in her teaching. Unfortunately for the University, there was evidence that several of the people involved in the tenure decision were prejudiced against her. Fortunately for the University, the same evidence showed they were prejudiced against her as a matter of academic politics, rather than anti-Semitism. Dr. Slatkin introduced no admissible evidence that anti-Semitism played any role in the denial of tenure. The trial court granted the University’s motion for summary judgment. We will affirm.

I

Factual Background

The following facts are taken from the papers filed in support of and in opposition to the University’s motion for summary judgment. Consistent with the applicable standard of review, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion—i.e., in this case, to Dr. Slatkin. (Davis v. Marin (2000) 80 Cal.App.4th 380, 382, fn. 1 [94 Cal.Rptr.2d 896].)

As will be seen, there are issues regarding the admissibility of some of the evidence Dr. Slatkin offered in opposition to the motion. For purposes of this statement of facts, however, we assume all such evidence was admissible.

In spring 1986, Dr. Slatkin first went to work for the University, teaching art history part-time. In fall 1992, she began teaching full-time; however, this was not a tenure track position.

In 1993, Philip A. Glotzbach, dean of the college of arts and sciences, offered Dr. Slatkin a tenure track position as associate professor in the art department. In July 1993, the University and Dr. Slatkin entered into an employment contract for the 1993-1994 academic year, renewable for the 1994-1995 academic year; it provided that, in fall 1995, she would be considered for tenure.

The University had three criteria for tenure decisions, which were set forth in the faculty handbook: (1) teaching, (2) research, and (3) University (including departmental) service.

In spring 1994, Dr. Slatkin received a tenure track review. Both Dean Glotzbach and Dr. Penny A. McElroy recommended her enthusiastically, and her employment contract was renewed.

*1151 In the fall of 1995, Dr. Slatkin applied for tenure. The University’s deadline for the submission of information pertinent to the tenure decision was October 30, 1995.

On October 27, 1995, Dr. McElroy, who had become the chair of the art department, submitted a letter on behalf of the entire department supporting Dr. Slatkin for tenure. She praised Dr. Slatkin’s research and her University service. Of Dr. Slatkin’s teaching, however, she said: “In the classroom, Wendy is a lively and entertaining lecturer. In her student evaluations she earns high praise for her knowledge and command of the subject. Students respond to her sense of humor and appreciate her availability and willingness to help them .... A majority of student evaluations express this judgment. Paradoxically, there is also a pattern in the evaluations that characterizes the course as not very interesting or stimulating. This pattern exists in evaluations [th]at are generally otherwise favorable as well as in those that are less positive overall.[ 1 ] Other observed patterns in the evaluations include a desire on the part of some students for a more clear sense of how they are being evaluated, and more opportunities to interact rather than passively listen. Our visits to the classroom confirm the existence of this paradox. We honor and rely upon Wendy’s strengths as a teacher, and hope that she will work on creating a more interactive and stimulating classroom environment.”

Regarding departmental service, she said: “The vigor that we observe in Wendy’s work on University service also is apparent to us in our work in the department. . . . The other side of all this energy and enthusiasm is a distinct lack of listening skills. . . . [S]ometimes Wendy is so intent on pursuing her own solution to a problem, she doesn’t appear to hear other opinions, sometimes talking directly over her colleagues.”

Dr. McElroy testified that, while she supported Dr. Slatkin for tenure, she “had reservations about her ability to interact harmoniously with others, accept criticism, and achieve goals of excellence in her teaching by modifying her teaching methods to increase the interest of her students.”

At the same time, Raúl Acero, another professor in the art department, was also up for tenure. On October 30, 1995, Dr. Slatkin submitted a letter ostensibly supporting Acero for tenure. However, she also said:

“Unfortunately, Ra[ú]l has participated in generating an environment in departmental meetings which makes frank and honest discussion difficult. *1152 He has informed me that, in his opinion, I don’t ‘listen’ to him. Since I have made a concerted effort to respect my colleagues’s [sic] opinions, I interprete [sic] this position as both an inability to recognize genuine differences of opinion as well as his difficulty with clear verbal articulation. [¶] . . . [¶]
“Ra[ú]l’s geographical move to Redlands, from New York City, . . .has been very disruptive for his career as a sculptor. He has consistently felt pressure to produce works of sculpture, a time[-]consuming activity, in order to have new works to exhibit to rebuild a professional life in this region. [¶] ... [¶]
“[T]he University has assisted his financial situation by hiring his wife . , . . The commitment to employ [her] . . . came directly from the Dean’s office, and not through ‘normal’ departmental channels. [Her] performance as a ceramics instructor[] is clearly not relevant to the decision on Ra[ú]l’s tenure. I mention this issue[] only because it is another example of the institutional support Ra[ú]l Acero has enjoyed from this University.
“In return, Ra[ú]l has agreed to serve on several committees when invited to do so. As far as I know, ... he has not volunteered for any university service.”

On November 2, 1995—i.e., after the deadline—Acero submitted a letter in which he refused to support Dr. Slatkin for tenure; he criticized her teaching and departmental service.

On November 6, 1995—i.e., after the deadline—Dr. McElroy submitted a second letter, this time recommending that Dr. Slatkin be denied tenure. She later explained: “Ms. Slatkin’s letter made it clear to me that she would not be able to interact effectively with her colleagues or achieve excellence in teaching, due to her inability to accept criticism. This incident tipped the balance against Ms. Slatkin in what had previously been a decision to recommend her for tenure.”

The faculty review committee voted narrowly, 6 to 4, to award Dr. Slatkin tenure. Dean Glotzbach, however, denied tenure. 2

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106 Cal. Rptr. 2d 480, 88 Cal. App. 4th 1147, 2001 Daily Journal DAR 4507, 2001 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 3690, 2001 Cal. App. LEXIS 341, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/slatkin-v-university-of-redlands-calctapp-2001.