A3 • NOVEMBER 12, 2009 • THE METROPOLITAN

NEWS
“The Spanish-American adventure, like
the Mexican War of 1846 and most Indian
wars have been acknowledged by most
historians as purely imperialist pushes.”
- J. SEBASTIAN SINISI on A9
CAITLIN GIBBONS • NEWS EDITOR • cgibbon4@mscd.edu

Tenured professor fired THIS WEEK

EVENTS
Torres claims Discrepancy on Lucas said the school was unable to
11.12
racism a factor
comment on the case, the investiga-
Campus
dossier leads to tion is documented in a 21-page “Fac-
Sustainability Fair
in dismissal termination ulty Dismissal Hearing” the college
made public after the board meeting.
Featuring exhibits on
sustainable solutions
Under Colorado law, personnel
By Andrew Flohr-Spence By Andrew Flohr-Spence matters are one of the few topics an
from National
spencand@mscd.edu spencand@mscd.edu Renewable Energy
official board is allowed to discuss be-
Angelina De La Torre’s lawyer, Da- Metro’s Board of Trustees voted hind close doors and not have open to
Lab, Denver Urban
vid Lane, told Metro’s Board of Trust- to dismiss an award-winning tenured the public because of the sensitivity
Gardens and Denver
ees that if it voted to uphold the pro- professor employed by the college for and privacy issues involved.
Bee Keeping Society
fessor’s dismissal, De La Torre would 19 years, on grounds that she lied
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
take the case to Federal Court for dis- about publishing an article in an aca- A spotless record
Auraria Events
crimination. demic journal. The faculty hearing dismissal re-
Center

Metro said the case is about the
integrity of its professors, but De La
Torre’s accusations hit a touchy sub-
ject for the college.
“I have been down this road pre-
viously with Metro,” Lane said.
Counsel often for high-profile cas-
es such as professor Ward Churchill’s
case versus the University of Colorado
at Boulder, Lane represented criminol-
ogy professor Richard Jackson who
sued Metro for hostile work environ-
ment, retaliations and racism.
A federal appeals court in 2006
rejected the charge of racism, but
agreed with Jackson on the other two
charges and awarded him $300,000,
the maximum awarded by the court.
“I think that case may be admis-
sible here,” Lane said.
De La Torre testified against Met-
ro in Jackson’s federal appeals court
case. Lane said there was a connec-
tion between the cases, that the col-
lege would have a hard time avoiding,
Continued on A7
The board, at its Nov. 4 meeting,
denied Angelina De La Torre’s appeal
of a November 2008 decision to ter-
minate her, made following a college
investigation into whether she com-
mitted academic dishonesty. During
a post-tenure review process, which
every tenured professor is subject to
every five years, De La Torre submitted
her updated curriculum vitae, or dos-
sier. On the dossier, she listed a paper
as being published in 2005 in a spe-
cialized academic journal.
In a review of the dossier, the
publication in question was proved
to not contain the article De La Torre
claimed to have published in 2005.
The college’s investigation report
said she “intentionally” lied on a re-
view of her performance. According
to the Handbook for Professional Per-
sonnel, the code of conduct for profes-
sors, such dishonesty is grounds for
dismissal.
Criminal Justice and Chicana/o
Studies Professor De La Torre said in
her defense that she made a mistake
Angelina De La Torres Photo by
Drew Jaynes •ajaynes1@mscd.edu
in reporting the publication on the
dossier, but had no intention to mis-
represent her work.
The dismissal has left De La Torre
without a job and salary for a year.
Her career has been ruined for a mis-
take she made innocently, she said.
She said she intends to take the
college to court.
De La Torre’s case highlights how
one false declaration, whether inten-
tional or not, can mean losing a ca-
reer.
The case also allows a rare glimpse
into Metro’s process for the dismissal
of a professor. The appeal in front of
the board was held publicly at De La
Torre’s request, not in a close-door ex-
ecutive session, where the majority of
personnel issues are handled.
While Metro Spokeswoman Cathy
11.13
port said De La Torre’s performance
prior to 2008 and her post-tenure re-
view has not been called into question. “Becoming Me: The
She was tenured in 1995, promoted Gender Within”
to associate professor and received the Metro psychology
2007 Espiritu de Aztlan Award, an department
award for commitment and mentor- premieres the
ing in the Latino Community. award-winning film
De La Torre, who received a doc- featuring the lives of
torate of law from the University of five transgendered
California-Los Angeles, is an adviser individuals. Q&A
to the Colorado Supreme Court and is follows film.
also featured in a 1999 college publi- 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
cation highlighting at Metro. Tivoli
“I’ve always tried to be an advo- Multicultural
cate for Latinos and especially Latino Lounge
women,” De La Torre said Nov. 8 in an
interview.
The college’s reason for terminat-
ing De La Torre revolves around her
claim on her post-tenure review dos- INDEX
sier that her article, “Emerging Global
Issues,” was published in Vol. 30, Is- INSIGHT ... A8
sue 1 of the Fall 2005 National Social METROSPECTIVE ... B1
Science Association Journal. AUDIOFILES ... B6
SPORTS ... A10
Continued on A7 TIMEOUT ... A14

Timeline of events leading to termination WEATHER

Events according to Angelina De la Torre 11.12 • Mostly Sunny
Luis Torres conducted High: 69/Low: 36
Submitted Post Tenure an investigation. 11.13 • Chance of rain
Review documents as “During the interview High: 47/Low: 32
Submitted an edited
Presented the version of the paper requested he conducted with Notified of Jordan’s
Notified of possible me on June 10, it
11.14 • Chance of rain
paper for publication February 2008 decision to terminate
“Emerging disciplinary action due appeared he had employment High: 46/Low: 27
along with the $25 to student complaints already judged me 11.15 • Chance of rain
Global issues” publication fee
at the NSSA Testified as a witness and lack of proof of guilty” November 2008 High: 47/Low: 26
conference in the Richard Jackson publishing in Oct. 2005 Met with Jordan to Memo to the Board of
November 2005 discrimination case 11.16 • Mostly Sunny
discuss the report on Trustees filed in appeal
October 2005 against Metro the investigation High: 54/Low: 27
June 2008 May 2009 11.17 • Mostly Sunny
January 2006 September 2008
High: 57/Low: 31
11.18 • Mostly Sunny
June 2008 November 2008 April 2009 High: 60/Low: 34
March 2008 May 2008 August 2008 Jordan issues December 2008 May 2009
Torres submits Notice of By Kendell LaRoche
Post De La a notice of Request for Final appeal
Tenure PTR a memo Torre meeting disciplinary hearing filed Respondents
regarding his to the Metro
Review Evaluation submits with Metro action, dismissing trial brief Board of CORRECTIONS
(PTR) interview with a memo President De La Torre for
De La Torre Trustees
beings Luis Torres to Torres Stephen cause Initial decision
requests Notice of Jordan
a copy of the Hearing To notify The Metropolitan of
of the possible Torres submits a officer an error in any of our reports,
article in disciplinary report regarding please contact Editor-in-Chief
question action the investigation Dominic Graziano at
dgrazia1@mscd.edu
All documents filed