University of Iowa employee Teresa Wagner has sued the school and its dean, claiming that she was rejected for a teaching position because of her conservative political views among a liberal faculty.
Wagner applied to be a full-time writing instructor in 2006, and later to be a part-time adjunct writing instructor. She was turned down repeatedly, allegedly because of her affiliation with conservative groups like the National Right to Life Committee and the conservative Family Research Council. Wagner is asking for compensation for lost income, lost benefits and emotional damages.
The lawsuit reveals that among the 50 staff members who vote on new faculty, 46 are registered as Democrats and only one is a registered Republican.
Although a spokesman for the University of Iowa dismissed the discrimination claim as “without merit,” the school faced criticism over political bias in 2007.
