The head of Georgia State University's Middle East Institute has resigned, claiming the university mishandled a discrimination complaint from a Muslim doctoral student. Dona Stewart stepped down Tuesday night, citing retaliation from the university for helping student Slma Shelbayah. Stewart said the university failed to address complaints from Shelbayah that another faculty member harassed her on multiple occasions in August about her hijab, or traditional Muslim headscarf. Both Stewart and Shelbayah have filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Georgia State spokeswoman Andrea Jones said the student's complaints were handled properly, and the university did not retaliate against either woman. Jones said the university is cooperating with the EEOC probe.
(Associated Press)
(Associated Press)
