BELLEVILLE — A former Southern Illinois University employee alleges the school failed to stop harassment she claims she faced from a coworker.
Lara Jennings filed a complaint Dec. 28 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) and Percy Bean alleging violation of the Illinois State Officials and Employees Ethics Act and Illinois Human Rights Act.
According to her complaint, Jennings served on the "professional staff" of the Upward Bound program at SIUE's East St. Louis campus from December 2014 through November 2018. She claims she worked with Bean, who had "substantially more seniority." She alleges that on March 7, 2018, and again in April 2018, Bean asked her "sexually related" questions regarding the nature of her relationship with the East St. Louis director Jesse Dixon. Jennings alleges Bean implied to others that she was having a sexual relationship with Dixon.
According to her suit, on Oct. 23, 2018, she reported Bean's alleged harassment and conduct and was told nothing could be done because it was "hearsay."
Jennings claims the school failed to apply its own sexual anti-harassment and discrimination policy.
She was constructively discharged on Nov. 10, 2019 and later received a right to sue from the Illinois Department of Human Rights.
Jennings seeks monetary relief of more than $50,000 and all other just relief. She is represented by D. Jeffrey Ezra of Ezra & Associates LLC in Collinsville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 20-L-1024