A lesbian Northwestern University political science professor who was, this summer, banned from campus and student contact was, on Sept. 19, given the go-ahead to return to her job.
Prof. Jacqueline Stevens was banned from contact with colleagues and students in late July in response to an exchange with a colleague that took place the previous March. Stevens maintained that the ban came in retaliation for her campus activism and relative "non-conformity" with her departmental colleagues. Some colleagues and officials maintain, however, that Stevens has been contentious with them as well as students.
Stevens contended that Professor Alvin Tillery screamed at her and slammed the door to his office, and she subsequently filed a complaint against him. He in turn threatened to sue, and asked that his office be moved away from Stevens', saying that he felt threatened by her behavior.
Tillery told the Daily Northwestern that Stevens "does speak aggressively and she is threatening in every interaction in the department." He has the support of their department chair, who has accused Stevens of spinning conspiracy theories.
Weinberg College of Letters and Sciences Dean Adrian Randolph notified Stevens that she could return to teaching, but the matter does not appear to be closed in the eyes of the university. Randolph's letter exhorts Stevens to "improve the quality of [her] teaching" without going into specifics as to how, and reminded her to use discretion in handling student information. It also says that Stevens bullied fellow faculty members, staff and students.
"Full professors must live up to high standards of conduct, especially when dealing with individuals who are lower in rank or in various ways dependent on them and therefore vulnerable," Randolph wrote. "I do understand that you may not be aware of the effect you have on others, but this cannot now continue to be an excuse. I ask that you acknowledge this problem as a first, important step towards reconciliation."
Stevens had to undergo a psychiatric evaluation and have her office moved.
"What I think is going on is a kind of 'allergy' to non-conformity," said Stevens, who attributed the episode to "academic mobbing," wherein academicians targeted colleagues for perceived differences through bullying and other forms of abuse.
"People who are critics of people in authority somehow end up being painted as bullies," she said. "The trendy term is 'mobbing.' Other members of the workplace who are more docile are incentivized by the people in power to go against the critics."
She maintained being "an out, butch lesbian" contributed to the dynamic. "Had I had a different temperament, I could have made more efforts to blend in. It was not quite fitting in demographically but also choosing to exercise my voice as a tenured professor that drew this kind of attention, and made my colleagues feel like they could turn tenure into a popularity contest. That kind of activity is also encouraged by university administration."
Stevens has taken public stands in highly visible campus episodes, most notably opposing the appointment of Karl Eikenberry, a retired lieutenant general, to head a global studies institute at Northwestern; Eikenberry ultimately withdrew himself from consideration. She thinks that opposition was a key factor in her recent difficulties.
Although Stevens can go back to the classroom, she was not sure what other issues may arise in the future and has been weighing her legal options. In the meantime, she is relieved to return to teaching.
"I'm really thrilled that I'm going to be able to teach this quarter and that I'm going to be able to do my research collaborations with students," she said.
