The hearing for a complaint brought against UNC by a housekeeper who claims the University was negligent in handling her sexual harassment case began Monday.
Maria Isabel Prudencio-Arias petitioned the University for not responding appropriately to her complaint against the former director of Housekeeping Services, who she claims began a retaliation campaign targeting her after she filed a sexual harassment complaint against her former supervisor, who was fired in late 2010.
“Prudencio-Arias was systematically a victim to drive her out of her mind and out of Chapel Hill — and the University was aware of this,” said her attorney, Al McSurely, at the hearing.
McSurely said Prudencio-Arias also received unwanted sexual attention from the former housekeeping director multiple times.
The University’s attorney, Katherine Murphy, said the University addressed the situation as soon as it became aware of the issue.
Prudencio-Arias filed her harassment complaint with UNC’s equal opportunity office. Formal investigations were carried out by Ann Penn, an Equal Opportunity/Americans with Disabilities Act officer at the University.
“Each time there was some concern brought up, I addressed it,” Penn said.
Murphy said he was not punishing Prudencio-Arias but had business reasons for some of his actions.
For example, Prudencio-Arias had to transfer to working at a residence hall from her former place of employment, the UNC School of Government, not out of retaliation — but because of her unsatisfactory work performance, Murphy said.
