John Knight testified in a sexual and racial harassment trial Friday, denying claims that an Alabama State University administrator regularly demeaned employees under his watch.
Knight, executive vice president and chief operating officer of ASU, sometimes bristled while denying other allegations, including that he had discouraged reporting of harassment and had asked female students and employees out on dates.
It was the third day of the trial of a lawsuit that three females brought against the university where they once worked.
The lawsuit alleges unlawful employment practices under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specific allegations include use of racial slurs and language demeaning to women, crude references to female body parts and inappropriate touching.
One of the plaintiffs, Cynthia Williams, testified earlier that she filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission office in Birmingham. She added that she was subsequently warned that making more complaints to the EEOC would get her fired.
Joseph L. Fitzpatrick Jr., attorney for the plaintiffs, asked Knight on Friday whether he disliked having his employees cooperate with the EEOC.
“I think that is an insult for you to ask me that, young man,” said Knight, a longtime Democratic state representative.
Jacqueline Weatherly and Lydia Burkhalter, the other two plaintiffs in the lawsuit, also gave testimony Friday. Read Full Article Montgomery
