The Commonwealth Times; Aug. 21, 2019

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COMMONWEALTHTIMES.ORG @theCT

THE INDEPENDENT PRESS OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY 2ⁿ place, weekly newspaper of the year — 2018 Pinnacle Awards

VOL. 61, NO. 1 AUGUST 21, 2019

VCUARTS SUMMER SHAKE-UP

Tapia on leave Lawsuit dropped Brixey resigns Photo by Gessler Santos-Lopez

VCUarts professor accused of racial profiling will not return to teaching this year CHRISTINA AMANO-DOLAN Contributing Writer

V

CUarts professor Javier Tapia will not be teaching this academic year — but will remain a tenured professor — following a racial profiling investigation and lawsuit he filed against the university. The School of the Arts Dean Shawn Brixey, one of the defendants in the suit filed by Tapia, stepped down at the beginning of the month. Associate Dean Nancy Scott was appointed acting dean until an interim dean is announced. A national search is being conducted, but it remains unclear when the position will be permanently filled. Brixey will remain a tenured faculty member in the School of the Arts and an affiliate faculty member at the College of Engineering, focusing on creative research and other activities. Brixey told the Richmond Times-Dispatch speculation that his resignation is related to Tapia’s lawsuit is “baseless and has nothing to do with the decision.” Tapia, a painting and printmaking professor who has taught at VCU since 1988, called security on

Caitlin Cherry, a black visiting professor sitting in a secured lounge within the Fine Arts Building. Believing his actions were racially motivated, Cherry filed a racial discrimination complaint to university officals the same day. “VCU anticipates that Professor Tapia will resume teaching duties at some point in the future, but that date has not yet been determined,” university spokesman Michael Porter said in an email. Although an internal investigation conducted by VCU exonerated him of any wrongdoing, Tapia was placed on paid administrative leave on Nov. 19 pending further investigation. This prompted Tapia to file a lawsuit against several VCU officials and the university. The suit demanded a lift on his suspension and $1 million in damages. Following a dismissal of the lawsuit by mutual agreement in July, Tapia was removed from eServices, which students use to register for classes. He previously appeared on the site as the professor for two painting and printmaking courses. See VCUARTS on page 1

Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2018

Friday, Dec. 28, 2018

Javier Tapia calls security on Caitlin Cherry. Cherry files a racial discrimination complaint to university officials believing it was racially motivated.

Tapia files a $1 million lawsuit against former VCUarts dean Shawn Brixey, painting and printmaking chair Noah Simblist and university President Michael Rao.

Thursday, Oct. 28, 2018

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Painting and printmaking chair Noah Simblist sends an email to students and faculty notifying them of the incident.

VCUarts students and others conduct a sitin at the provost’s office.

Monday, Oct. 29, 2018 VCU begins investigating Cherry’s complaint.

Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018 VCU concludes its investigation and informs Tapia of its conclusion that his conduct toward Cherry was not based on her race or color.

Monday, Nov. 19, 2018 Tapia is placed on paid administrative leave pending further review.

Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018 Students demand university officials address the incident with Tapia at a forum in the University Student Commons.

Wednesday, May 1, 2019 The VCUarts Student Coalition, then known as the PAPR Student Coalition, organizes a sit-in on the third floor of the Fine Arts Building protesting Tapia’s return.

Thursday, May 9, 2019 A small group of VCUarts students meets with Rao, Brixey and provost Gail Hackett as a result of May 1 sit-in.

Monday, July 15, 2019 All parties in the lawsuit file for the case to be dismissed in federal court.

Monday, Aug. 5, 2019 The university announces Brixey’s resignation. Compiled by Christina Amano-Dolan Infographic by Andrew Caress

NEWS GRC lounge 3

SPORTS Blue Jays pitcher 5

SPECTRUM Art museums 8

OPINIONS Mass shootings 10


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