ISLAMIC STUDIES DEPARTMENTACCUSED OF RELIGIOUSBIAS

l3y Sarnj., Coelho. The Vitrsity

TORONTO (CUP) - A l'orrm:r Univt:rsity nl' Toronto rrMessor ww, rcpcutt:dly dt:nit:d tenure-track positions in the lslu111icstudies deptu·tment bci.:n11~che is of the Uaha'i l'uith and a Canadian citizen, an Ontarin I lttrnnn Rights hoard nf inquiry was told ln~t week.

However. the universny n.:futes this uccusntinn .irguing that it wn~ the nurruw i,cop<.:of llenj.imin Tt1dd Law~on's expertise and si.:holarship that made him ineligible for em:h ol' the post t .awson was a contract professor·nt the university from 1988 10 1994. During this time. he made three ,ep,1rote npplicmion~ for tenun:-track positions advertised by the dcpart1m:nt for religious studies and the department of Middle East and l~lamic studies.

He alleges that during the interview process for each position. the search cnmrni1tees miscll questions and t:vcn concerns ahnut his Baha"i faith. He foikd to attain any ol' the positions and was eventually fmced to lt:ave the university when his contrnct expired in 1994.

Baha'is follow the Ieacl1ings of Bahu'u'llah. :1 prophet who l'oundcd the Baha'i Faith in the nineteenth cc11tlIry. They believe that global peace can be achieved one<.:all for111s nl' prejudice. ge11de1·inequity and poverty have heen c.:radicmell. cllucatinn has been mnde univer:-.,dly 11v.1ilublcand each person c111br,1cesthe "relativity of religious truth."

According to his lawyer, Robel'! Gibson, Lawson is seeking between $500,000 and 'li750,000 in compensation for the damage llonc to his career, us well as lost wages and pension benefits. Gibson also said his client intends to return to the university ns ,1faculty member.

"What we are seeking is n job with advanced placement in light or the seven yc.irs which have passed:' Gibi,on said.

In court last week. Michuel Smith, legal counsel for the university. argued thal Luw~nn was a contract profe:-.snr whom the university was in no way obligated to hire for a tenured position once his rnntract expired. He said foiling to ,111aintenured positions <locs not ruin nn individual's career.

Rhonda Love. president of the University ol' Toronto faculty association. said allegations of religious discrimination arc rare at the university.

"If we look at our grievance l'ilc. we don't hnve very many cases like this. This is an unusual situatil)n. as for as we know," she said.

The case brings U orT's hiring prnctices i111n questil,n. According to university ~pokesperson Sue Bll)ch-Nt:vitte the university does not provide search committees like that which intervicwcll Lawson with a list of questions they may ur m;Iy not ask.

However. she ~tressed thnt thii, c.lidnot mean search commi!lees are completely unrcgu• latcd.

"Senrch committees arc inslructec.l that they i,;annnt n~k any qu<.:stionsthat arc rcslricted by lnw," said Bloch-Ncvittc.

The Ontnrio Human Rights code states thul neither cree<l nor citi,enship nre legal grounds upon which to deny an applicant employm<.:nt. Lawson 's case is being nrgued unllcr part one of the Hum.in Rights Code; l'rccdom from discrimination.

The hearing is expected tn tnke 40 days.