YeshivaVictim
04-06-2006, 01:02 PM
I entered Xxxx College of Medicine in 1999 after graduating cum laude from Kansas State University with dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemistry and Biochemistry and with numerous academic honors and out-of-class achievements. During first two years at xxx I earned several glowing faculty evaluations, developed a new student orientation program, and planed several class ski trips for the College. After spending a year doing fellowship research on tuberculosis with Dr. Xxxx, Jr, I decided to pursue a Ph.D. degree in addition to the M.D. Dr. Xxxx offered me a position in his lab. In early 2003 I applied for the prestigious Howard Hughes Fellowship and was one of 60 students nationwide to receive this honor. In October of 2003, I co-authored a groundbreaking paper on TB vaccines which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
When the housing staff wouldn't help let me swap a homophobic roommate, I wrote to the Dean of the College of Medicine, revealing my sexual orientation to the administration for the first time. He threatened me with the ending of my career and costly litigation if I did not move from my apartment.
Over the next six months of 2004 despite my prior academic accolades and a positive letter of recommendation from my mentor for the same period of time, I was accused of poor performance, stealing my own computer equipment (which I had purchased with personal funds, and reported missing), submitting false expense reports and was eventually suspended for allegedly sending a threatening email to a co-worker. On several occasions I explained to the school how these allegations were false, but my evidence was ignored.
My requests to be notified of specific charges, to see the evidence upon which the College based its decision were ignored. This despite the clear procedure in Einstein's bylaws for addressing allegations of misconduct, including notice of charges and procedures to be followed, the right to an advocate, prompt review of the allegations, right to review evidence, and the right to present my case and defenses.
In late 2004 I was told HHMI was holding the award pending institutional endorsement from Einstein, which had been withdrawn shortly after my suspension. Despite several letters from myself and HHMI requesting the endorsement, the College refused and my funding expired.
Since February of 2005, my attorneys have written several letters to the associate and general counsel of Einstein and Xxxx University (within which Einstein is chartered) to no avail.
Finally, in June of 2005, my attorneys met with attorneys for Xxxx, who proposed that all would be forgotten if I left the College. Leaving a medical school on such terms would effectively end my career.
Meanwhile I continued to reside in student housing and draw a graduate student stipend.
Because I am not willing to give up my medical career for what amounts to homophobia and bigotry, I have sought assistance from the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
Despite the involvement of attorneys, the courts, and the support of several prominent community leaders, Xxxx continues to show its bias to gay and lesbian students who are judged not on academic performance but on the protected class to which they belong.
When the housing staff wouldn't help let me swap a homophobic roommate, I wrote to the Dean of the College of Medicine, revealing my sexual orientation to the administration for the first time. He threatened me with the ending of my career and costly litigation if I did not move from my apartment.
Over the next six months of 2004 despite my prior academic accolades and a positive letter of recommendation from my mentor for the same period of time, I was accused of poor performance, stealing my own computer equipment (which I had purchased with personal funds, and reported missing), submitting false expense reports and was eventually suspended for allegedly sending a threatening email to a co-worker. On several occasions I explained to the school how these allegations were false, but my evidence was ignored.
My requests to be notified of specific charges, to see the evidence upon which the College based its decision were ignored. This despite the clear procedure in Einstein's bylaws for addressing allegations of misconduct, including notice of charges and procedures to be followed, the right to an advocate, prompt review of the allegations, right to review evidence, and the right to present my case and defenses.
In late 2004 I was told HHMI was holding the award pending institutional endorsement from Einstein, which had been withdrawn shortly after my suspension. Despite several letters from myself and HHMI requesting the endorsement, the College refused and my funding expired.
Since February of 2005, my attorneys have written several letters to the associate and general counsel of Einstein and Xxxx University (within which Einstein is chartered) to no avail.
Finally, in June of 2005, my attorneys met with attorneys for Xxxx, who proposed that all would be forgotten if I left the College. Leaving a medical school on such terms would effectively end my career.
Meanwhile I continued to reside in student housing and draw a graduate student stipend.
Because I am not willing to give up my medical career for what amounts to homophobia and bigotry, I have sought assistance from the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
Despite the involvement of attorneys, the courts, and the support of several prominent community leaders, Xxxx continues to show its bias to gay and lesbian students who are judged not on academic performance but on the protected class to which they belong.
