The_Rambler_2000-05-11

              SUNY Farmingdale found accountable by Christopher Collora
It is often said that there are diree sides to
every story, yours, mine, and the truth.
Note- This article and case may be interpret-ed
in different ways, depending on point of
view. As many facts as have been accessible
have been presented for a balanced view of
the truth. But "truth" is as subjective as ones
own reality. The following article may not the
sole interpretation of this case.
Former Professor and Campus
Chaplain Rev. Dr. Edward Werring,
recently won a $201,700 lawsuit against
SUNY Farmingdale for alleged employ-ee
discrimination. Werring, 55, claimed
that he was not promoted because of a
ruling he made on a committee investi-gating
a case where another professor
was fired.
Specifically, the lawsuit alleged that
Werring headed a three-person commit-tee
(an advocate from both sides and an
impartial professor- Your side, my ude,
and the truth), that found that Dean Del
Bene may have discriminated by elimi-nating
the job of an African American
professor in 1997. The Administration
denied the allegations. Later that year
and the following year. Dean Del Bene
(who was Werring's dean) did not recom-mend
Werring for promotion. Father
Werring was the second listed professor
up for promotion, however despite the
fact that he had fulfilled all of the
requirements and criteria according to
the college guidelines, he was not pro-moted
(although the #1 and #3 professors
on the list were promoted). The diction-ary
definition of "Discrimination" is "to
make the differences clear". By differen-tiating
Dr. Werrings promotion, when the
two adjacent professors were promoted,
was a clearly questionable judgement.
On May 5, the jury at U S. District
Court in Uniondale agreed, awarding
him $201,700 for emotional distress and
back pay under federal and state civil
rights laws.
Father Werring is very
insistent about what he
believes in... that Is one of
the reasons I brought him
to our campus^*
- Fmr. SUNY Farmingale President
Dr. Frank A. Cipriani
Rev./Dr. Edward Werring
Several individuals in the campus
community supported Father Werring's
cause, and testified in the trial.
However many were equally unwilling
to comment or take any position on the
issue. This consideration is important,
because it reflects the dark trap we
have fallen into as people, when we are
afraid to take positions because of pos-sible
retaliation and lawsuits. When we
cease being human beings because of
the legal machine.
The trial, for Werring was about
truth, accountability, and justice He
believed that a college and individuals
should stand up for the truth and accept
• responsibility for their actions. His own
words, ""I feel fantastic. This is the
first time in a long time that the admin-istration
has been held accountable for
its actions It took 3 1/2 years to bring
it to this point." As many familiar with
Dr Werring know, this was a long bat-tle
for him personally
The jury found Dr. Frank Cipriani
(former college President) liable for
$15,000, Dr. Frank Del Bene (Dean,
school of business) liable for $35,000
and the college liable for $150,000
plus $1,700 in back pay. Dr. Michael
Vinciguerra (acting president) and
Dean Mark (dean of arts sciences),
were the two administrators were not
found liable.
The official response of the
Administration was the statement by
Dr. Michael J Vinciguerra "In an
effort to heal the campus community,
we have decided not to pursue an
appeal in this matter," In a recent
interview, Dr Vinciguerra stated "No
matter what one may think of his
legal actions, his contributions to this
campus were significant"
Communications Director Kathryn
Coley was divided on the issue, stat-ing
"This was just a no-win situa-tion...
Father Werring was a beloved
member of the campus community,
but his lawsuit could hurt the col-lege.
.. but right now we just want to
put this behind us and heal"
^This was just a no-win
situation. Father Werring is a
beloved member of the
campus community^- comm.
Director Kathy Coley- SUNY Farmingdale
When offered the opportunity to comment
about the lawsuit. Dean Del Bene (found
liable for $35,000), stated "No comment"
and abruptly asked us to leave his office. In
a recent interview. Former SUNY
Farmingdale F'resident Dr. Frank Cipriani,
refused to comment on the case directly, but
responded "Father Werring is the kind of
individual who is very insistent about v^at
he believes in... that was one of the reasons
I liked him. That was one of the reasons I
brought him to our campus.", further added
that he still had a fmdness for Werring him-self,
however implied that his acticxis were
disappointing. He denied that there had been
an intended retaliation against Dr. Werring,
whom he hired twenty years ago. The diffi-cult
position he and the odier administrators
find themsdves in is a result of ^ recent
"(Mnni-lawsuit" society. De^ite (xies claims,
the administration has a difficult fight when
it comes to cases of "discrimination". One
can no longer prove true intenticms anymore
because lawyers can twist and shape any fact
to fit an argument mold. Truth today tends to
be a matter of legal perspective.
Despite how the relative truth appeared.
Dr. Werring won the battle for accountabili-ty.
In doing this he hoped to teach the
administration to be more accountable to
their-own policies. In some ways it has. One
of Dr. Vmciguarra's goals for tiie college is
to be more open with the faculty and a return
to the SUNY Farmingdale Community that
has been lacking for so long It makes one
wonder what has happened to our sense of
community when we have to fear making
free statements and free expression of truth
because of retaliatory threats or lawsuits.
If this is a story about growth, change,
and gaining a deeper understanding it would
be a good one, but the true trial was of Dr
Werring's own beliefs and convictions. Here
is a person who, in the face of illness, found
the inner strength to stand up for what he
believed That immeasurable quality is what
made Dr Werring a true human being He
not only talked about truth, faith, and
community, he lived it by example.
Professor Profile
Dr. Edward Werring
A
Personal Reflection
Page 4
Farevyell to
FanvAnodale 2000
Pictures- Page 13-14
Rampage Feature:
Back Stage Theater Play:
{Jtt/e^p of j^orrors
Review and Pictures!
Campus
A Farewell to
Farmingdale
Page 2