The University of Evansville, two administrators, and a theatre professor are denying allegations against them in a federal lawsuit. Their lawyers have filed motions to dismiss most of the charges in the case.
The suit by a former student accuses UE theatre professor Scott Lank of multiple instances of racial and sexual harassment. The student, Alexis Seay, is a black woman.
Lank denies all allegations of harassment. Lank’s lawyer has filed to dismiss the case, arguing that individuals have no liability under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
Seay also accuses the university, Title IX Director Tracey Folden, and former President Thomas Kazee of negligence for inadequately responding to the allegations.
Lawyers for the university, Folden, and Kazee have also filed to dismiss the charges except for one. The count they did not file to dismiss accuses the university of not addressing a racially hostile environment.
The university, Folden, and Kazee deny any negligence.
Click the following links to read the court documents:
- Lank's response to the complant
- Motion to dismiss from Lank's lawyer
- Memorandum in support of the motion to dismiss the complaint from Lank's lawyer
- Response from the university, Folden, and Kazee to the plaintiff's complaint
- Motion to partially dismiss the complaint from lawyers for the university, Folden, and Kazee
- Memorandum in suppot of the motion to partially dismiss the complaint from lawyers for the university, Folden, and Kazee