University of Minnesota -- how would you handle?

[MileHigh]

What a joke up there.

I don't know Amelia but I could see where she was coming from in her decision. But still ...

How would you handle this as a reporter? As her boss? As upper management? As ... shudder ... HR?

And while this piece is a "It's not about us" situation, in this case it is. And yet it seems a bit of exploitation to have it come out after this slapd*** is sent packing.

Star Tribune's Rayno adds her own story to Teague scandal - StarTribune.com

 

[mediaguy]

I think Amelia handled it extremely well. Informed her bosses, kept good documentation of what happened, tried to resolve it without it keeping her from doing her job. I admire her coming forward now -- may encourage others in similar positions to do the same, both at Minnesota and elsewhere. So disappointed this is something female reporters still have to deal with, but it clearly is.

 

[boundforboston]

While the entire situation is a shame, it's especially bad that she thought she'd have her access cut off if she approached Minnesota about claims of sexual harassment.

 

[forever_town]

As the reporter, contact HR immediately. As her boss, get her off that beat pronto, not because she did anything wrong, but to keep her away from a situation that would make her uncomfortable while I report the harassment to my superiors.

As upper management, I'd report it up his chain of command as soon as I heard of it.

As HR, I'd take all the documentation necessary and take whatever actions I need to.

 

[MisterCreosote]

As her boss?

I would've reassigned her immediately and notified the university. There's no reason she couldn't resume her desired career path after it all shook out.

And, her rationale of "self preservation" doesn't make much sense to me - protecting her career, reputation and well-being against criminal behavior should be her boss's responsibility as well.

 

[TigerVols]

Wow, what a well-handled story by Rayno; she deserves nothing but applause from the industry.

 

[Dick Whitman]

What was her beat? Basketball? Football? The athletic department? I assume that the paper separates the basketball and football beats, but perhaps not.

 

[MisterCreosote]

What was her beat? Basketball? Football? The athletic department? I assume that the paper separates the basketball and football beats, but perhaps not.

What difference does it make?

 

[Alma]

Like the piece a lot, and applaud her for coming forward.

Rayno's account nixes the "Norwood Teague was overserved alcohol and he has a drinking problem" storyline. He pursued some sort of creepfest with her for some time, and unless he was in a state of constant drunkenness, with an overserving bartender at the ready, the booze enhanced his harassment, but didn't produce it.

 

[forever_town]

I would've reassigned her immediately and notified the university. There's no reason she couldn't resume her desired career path after it all shook out.

And, her rationale of "self preservation" doesn't make much sense to me - protecting her career, reputation and well-being against criminal behavior should be her boss's responsibility as well.

It sounds like she was genuinely worried that she wouldn't get support from her superiors. If I were her boss and that was how she felt, it would mean I failed her as my employee.

 

[The Big Ragu]

Agree with the people saying she handled it as well as anyone could. His behavior puts her in a tough spot. A woman in a male-dominated endeavor. She ends up having to deal with a major creep; being made really uncomfortable. If she goes to his bosses, yeah, he will stop (unless he reports to James Dolan, in which case the two of them will giggle and ratchet up the harassment).

But if she does that, she can count on the whispers becoming about her rather than the creep who was harassing her; people asking, if she is too sensitive? Making a big deal out of nothing? etc.

I can't say how I'd deal with that--and thankfully I will never have to deal with it. But my best guess is I would try to be firm and set a limit as best I could (which is what she did), avoid him except when necessary (which she did), and not blow it up, because of it might effect my career which I have worked so hard to build (which she did).

It sucks that she had to deal with it. I don't think she should regret not blowing it up -- the way she wrote. She handled it as best as she could at the time. If it was me, I'd probably only have forced the issue if he started retaliating against me for rebuffing him -- and making it impossible to do my job. It just sucks that she was put in a position where she had to make that kind of decision.

 

[SFIND]

What was her beat? Basketball? Football? The athletic department? I assume that the paper separates the basketball and football beats, but perhaps not.

Third paragraph of the article.

 

[Ace]

As the reporter, contact HR immediately. As her boss, get her off that beat pronto, not because she did anything wrong, but to keep her away from a situation that would make her uncomfortable while I report the harassment to my superiors.

As upper management, I'd report it up his chain of command as soon as I heard of it.

As HR, I'd take all the documentation necessary and take whatever actions I need to.

Yes, but what's immediately? If the guy sends you one text that shows more than professional interest do you run to HR? In the example where he climbs in the cab with her, do you chalk that up to him drinking and maybe you wondering if you may have led him on?

I would say it would be hard as a reporter to decide when it was time to let others know. I think she did a good job and came forward at an appropriate time.

 

[MisterCreosote]

That one night, with the drinks, the groping, the following into the cab, and the ensuing texts, is more than enough to elevate the situation to HR and get the ball rolling on harassment charges.

Drunk or not.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Third paragraph of the article.

Thanks. I read it this morning and must have not noticed that part.

 

[Dick Whitman]

What difference does it make?

I'm really surprised at the hostility my question generated.

I was curious.

 

[Dick Whitman]

That one night, with the drinks, the groping, the following into the cab, and the ensuing texts, is more than enough to elevate the situation to HR and get the ball rolling on harassment charges.

Drunk or not.

When you say "harassment charges," is "harassment" really a criminal offense? She doesn't work for him, obviously.

 

[Ace]

Wow, what a well-handled story by Rayno; she deserves nothing but applause from the industry.

Want to echo this.

Not only did the story do a fantastic job specifically detailing the creepiness the AD exhibited toward a reporter covering the team, it also:

1. Let you into Rayno's mind on what she was thinking. From the beginning, "Hey, this is how we build sources" to the end "what is the fallout to my career going to be if I come forward?"

2. Also let you know what a major creep the AD is and should destroy the impression that this his resignation letter was intended to create -- this was a case of a one or two inappropriate texts fueled by booze.

3. I especially like the detail of how he really started chasing her when she said she and her boyfried had split and how his comments and texts overtly tried to use the leverage he had as AD with her. Imagine if she were his employee?

 

[expendable]

When you say "harassment charges," is "harassment" really a criminal offense? She doesn't work for him, obviously.

It's probably more assault, which is a police matter.

 

[MisterCreosote]

It's probably more assault, which is a police matter.

Yeah, that's what I meant. Or criminal stalking, maybe.

And reporting it to the university would ostensibly get it to look at his in-house harassment record.