University tutor fired for organizing meeting via Blackboard, filed grievance

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Unknowingly violating university policy cost one student tutor his job.

In early October, former tutor Tom Jackson, a Waterford junior, emailed colleagues via Blackboard to organize a meeting to discuss qualms about the tutoring services policies.

Ten days later, Jackson was fired from his job.

Central Michigan University Police were sent to investigate after a complaint was filed against Jackson by Jane Johnson, assistant director of Academic Advising.

According to the police report, Johnson said Jackson was a tutor hired through her office, and after becoming aware of the emails he sent to fellow tutors, she asked him to remove the messages and stop further postings.

A future meeting between Jackson and Johnson was scheduled to be held at the Academic Advising office, but the police report said Jackson came to the office early to question the meeting’s purpose, and because Johnson was not there, he instead had contact with a staff member. The staff member described Jackson to Johnson as “intimidating” because of his clean-shaven head and black trench coat, which was a drastic change from his former appearance, the report stated.

Jackson said he questioned the meeting’s purpose and wanted to move its date up because of anticipation, the report stated, and Jackson said he had owned the trench coat since high school and he shaved his head because he was “tired of messing with his hair.”

Jackson said CMU Police Officer Michael Morrow investigated his apartment and examined his Facebook account.

Jackson said he allowed Morrow into his apartment because he believed it was regarding a domestic abuse case that occurred the night before in his apartment complex, and expected basic questioning. He said when he learned the reason why Morrow was there, he denied him consent to search his bedroom.

In the police report, Jackson’s account seemed to revolve mainly around the legalization of marijuana, but no reference of violence as the solution to problems was found.

“I requested consent from Jackson to search his room for weapons or signs indicating a plan of violence,” Morrow stated in the police report. “Jackson, who seems to be a person who understands his rights, declined to give consent. He explained that he has nothing to hide and was not planning anything violent. I spoke to Jackson about weapons and did not get any indication that weapons are a significant part of his persona.”

Jackson said he did not know using Blackboard to email his colleagues was prohibited. CMU Police declined comment, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

According to the Student Employment Services guidelines, a supervisor must first talk to the student about any problems they come across and if the problem persists, Student Employment Services is to be contacted.

Jackson said those steps were never taken because he was fired after only one meeting with Johnson.

He said his intent in emailing his colleagues was to organize a meeting to get an opinion on Tutoring Services policies.

According to the Student Rights and Responsibilities document, those meetings are allowed and encouraged.

“Students individually and collectively are free to examine and to discuss all questions of interest to them, including questions relating to University policies, and to express opinions publicly and privately,” it states.

Since being fired, Jackson said he is working with Paralegal Brenda Bove from the American Civil Liberties Union to determine if he can take any legal action against Tutoring Services.

“Once (they are) finished reviewing my case concerning my termination and harassment by campus police, then it will be decided if legal action will be taken against CMU,” Jackson said in an email.

Jackson has contacted the Institutional Equity office on campus, and has drawn from information found in the National Labor Reform Act.

Representatives from the office of academic advising, the Institutional Equity office declined comment.