THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 1, 1995 TAG: 9503010460
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY MASON PETERS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
Carol S. Kerr, an education professor who was fired, reinstated and then resigned from Elizabeth City State University, has been notified that her racial discrimination complaint has been dismissed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Raleigh.
Kerr, accused ECSU of violating her civil rights during a 1993 squabble with university administrators over her refusal to be evaluated under conditions specified by her faculty supervisor.
She now lives and teaches in Las Vegas.
``I have determined that the evidence obtained during investigation (of Kerr's charges) was insufficient to establish violations of the statute,'' said Richard E. Walz, director of the Raleigh office of the EEOC.
Walz, in a letter dated Feb. 21, told Kerr she could bring suit ``within 90-days'' against ECSU in a U.S. District Court if she desired.
``Once this 90-day period is over, your right to sue will be lost,'' Walz' letter said.
The 50-year old Kerr was denied a new teaching contract for the 1993-1994 university season after the disagreement with her supervisor. She appealed to the board of governors of the University of North Carolina system in Chapel Hill and the governors ordered Kerr reinstated with back pay.
ECSU, a predominantly African-American institution, is one of the 16 member universities within the UNC system.
Kerr's complaint with the EEOC charged that she was ``subjected to discriminatory terms and conditions of employment and not recommended for renewal of her contract due to her race, Caucasian.''
Walz letter to Kerr found no fault with the actions of ECSU administrators.
Several weeks after her reinstatement last year, Kerr resigned. She said she was uncomfortable with her reception on campus after she returned to her old job. by CNB