UT administrator suspended over TFP column
Written by Justin R. Kalmes | | news@toledofreepress.com
EDITOR’S NOTE: The April 6 Michael S. Miller column can be read here. The April 18 Crystal Dixon column can be read here. UT President Lloyd Jacob’s response can be read here. The WTOL video report can be viewed here.
A UT administrator has been placed on paid leave for opinions she expressed in a column posted on Toledo Free Press’ Web site last month.
As first reported on WTOL TV, Crystal Dixon, associate vice president of human resources, wrote in her column posted on the newspaper’s Web site April 18, “As a black woman … I take great umbrage at the notion that those choosing the homosexual lifestyle are ‘civil rights victims.’ Here’s why. I cannot wake up tomorrow and not be a black woman. I am genetically and biologically a black woman … Daily, thousands of homosexuals make a life decision to leave the gay lifestyle evidenced by the growing population of PFOX (Parents and Friends of Ex Gays) and Exodus International just to name a few.”
Dixon wrote her column in response to an April 6 opinion piece written by Toledo Free Press Editor in Chief Michael S. Miller in which he mentioned UT’s policy of offering domestic-partner benefits to university employees but not to those of the former Medical University of Ohio when the institutions merged in 2006.
A UT spokesman confirmed Dixon has been put on paid leave, but said and further comment regarding an ongoing personnel matter would be inappropriate.
Dixon could not be reached for comment as of this posting. An automatic reply from her UT e-mail address said she would be out of the office for the next few weeks.
UT President Dr. Lloyd Jacobs repudiated Dixon’s opinions in a column he wrote for the May 4 edition of Toledo Free Press, saying, “ … Her comments do not accord with the values of the University of Toledo.”
Jacobs said in the column he has written a letter to Ohio legislators to support the passing of initiatives that would extend rights and privileges to domestic partners. He said the university would be taking action to align its policies with its own value system, which places “value upon persons of every variety.”
Miller said he strongly disagreed with Dixon’s comments, but defends her right to say them.
“The university operates in an atmosphere of idea exchange, and while I recognize the institution’s desire to distance itself from her, this is a basic free speech issue and I am disappointed she has been punished for expressing her views,” he said.
Kim Welter, program manager for education and outreach for Equality Ohio, an advocacy group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens, said in a statement, “I respect everyone’s individual religious beliefs; however, this
is an issue in the public sphere which involves law abiding, tax-paying
citizens of this state, who often experience life as second-class
citizens. It is unfortunate that someone who works in Human Resources
for the University of Toledo would publicly express beliefs
more appropriate for her place of worship.”
