Siteadmin, Check users, nsTeam1RO, nsTeam1RW, nsTeam1_talkRO, nsTeam1_talkRW, oversight, Administrators
30,650
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 15:
Line 15: + + +
→Smithsonian Controversy: Coddington and Lemaitre pressured Sternberg to resign
Although Sternberg had announced his resignation from PBSW before the controversy irrupted, he continued to work at the Smithsonian as a [[National Museum of Natural History]] (NMNH) Research Associate (RA).<ref>{{hnb|Sounder|2006}}</ref> Sternberg states that he was subjected to a hostile work environment as an RA, and requested that the United States Office of Special Counsel ([[United States Office of Special Counsel|USOSC]]) investigate his allegations.<ref>{{hnb|Sounder|2006}}</ref> The USOSC ultimately concluded in a letter obtained by three media outlets that Sternberg was subjected to a hostile work environment at the NMNH.<ref>{{hnb|Hagerty|2005}}, {{hnb|Powell|2005|p=A19}} letter is referred to as a report in Washington Post article, but quotes in this article make it clear that the report was addressed to Sternberg. See also
Although Sternberg had announced his resignation from PBSW before the controversy irrupted, he continued to work at the Smithsonian as a [[National Museum of Natural History]] (NMNH) Research Associate (RA).<ref>{{hnb|Sounder|2006}}</ref> Sternberg states that he was subjected to a hostile work environment as an RA, and requested that the United States Office of Special Counsel ([[United States Office of Special Counsel|USOSC]]) investigate his allegations.<ref>{{hnb|Sounder|2006}}</ref> The USOSC ultimately concluded in a letter obtained by three media outlets that Sternberg was subjected to a hostile work environment at the NMNH.<ref>{{hnb|Hagerty|2005}}, {{hnb|Powell|2005|p=A19}} letter is referred to as a report in Washington Post article, but quotes in this article make it clear that the report was addressed to Sternberg. See also
{{hnb|McVay|2005}} USOSC pre-closure letter to Sternberg</ref> However, the USOSC closed the investigation without taking further action due to the jurisdictional issue of Richard Sternberg's salary, which was not paid by the Smithsonian.<ref>{{hnb|Powell|2005|p=A19}}, {{hnb|Hagerty|2005}}, {{hnb|Sounder|2006}}</ref> Eugenie Scott, whose organization also consulted with the Smithsonian, countered that "<nowiki>[Sternberg]</nowiki> didn't lose his job, he didn't get his pay cut, he still has his research privileges, he still has his office....You know, what's his complaint? People weren't nice to him. Well, life is not fair."<ref>{{hnb|Hagerty|2005}}</ref> [[Mark Souder|U.S. Representative Mark Souder's]] staff subsequently issued a report findng that the allegations of a hostile work environment and other retaliations including demotion were backed by "substantial, credible evidence."<ref>{{hnb|Sounder|2006}}</ref>
{{hnb|McVay|2005}} USOSC pre-closure letter to Sternberg</ref> However, the USOSC closed the investigation without taking further action due to the jurisdictional issue of Richard Sternberg's salary, which was not paid by the Smithsonian.<ref>{{hnb|Powell|2005|p=A19}}, {{hnb|Hagerty|2005}}, {{hnb|Sounder|2006}}</ref> Eugenie Scott, whose organization also consulted with the Smithsonian, countered that "<nowiki>[Sternberg]</nowiki> didn't lose his job, he didn't get his pay cut, he still has his research privileges, he still has his office....You know, what's his complaint? People weren't nice to him. Well, life is not fair."<ref>{{hnb|Hagerty|2005}}</ref> [[Mark Souder|U.S. Representative Mark Souder's]] staff subsequently issued a report findng that the allegations of a hostile work environment and other retaliations including demotion were backed by "substantial, credible evidence."<ref>{{hnb|Sounder|2006}}</ref>
[[Mark Souder|U.S. Representative Mark Souder's]] staff subsequently issued a report findng that the allegations of a hostile work environment and other retaliations including demotion were backed by "substantial, credible evidence."<ref>{{hnb|Sounder|2006}}</ref>
*Indeed, NMNH officials explicitly acknowledged in emails their intent to pressure Sternberg to resign because of his role in the publication of the Meyer paper and his views on evolution. On September 13, 2004, Dr. Jonathan Coddington, chair of the zoology department, wrote to crustacean curator Dr. Rafael Lemaitre that he could not find a legal basis for terminating Sternberg, but added: “I suppose we could call him on the phone and verbally ask him to do the right thing and resign?” A few hours later, Dr. Lemaitre responded that “a face to face meeting or at least a ‘you are welcome to leave or resign’ call with this individual, is in order.”
=== Opinions on the Smithsonian Controversy ===
=== Opinions on the Smithsonian Controversy ===