Andrea Smith’s claims of Cherokee heritage went unchecked by the university for 15 years, until fellow faculty members complained about the controversy.
An ethnic studies professor at UC Riverside whose claims of Cherokee heritage have been in question for 15 years and stirred public outcry has agreed to resign following a complaint by 13 faculty members.
Smith’s resignation staves off an administrative investigation and potentially substantial legal costs to the university. John Warren, a spokesperson for UC Riverside, said in an email Wednesday that the negotiated separation agreement brings a timely conclusion to Smith’s continued employment with the university.
Smith, according to the agreement, denied and disputed the allegations contained in the complaint. The university subsequently engaged in discussions with her to resolve the matter, and Smith agreed to resign. “It is my hope that more Indigenous peoples will answer the call to work for social justice without fear of being subjected to violent identity-policing,” Smith said.Controversy surrounding Smith’s Cherokee heritage reportedly began after she was denied tenure at the University of Michigan in 2008. She subsequently moved on and took the job at UC Riverside that same year.
on its website on “indigenous identity affiliation,” insisting “upon transparency and integrity in matters of Indigenous affiliation and identity” by all faculty.“Allegations of misconduct by a faculty member are a personnel matter and protected by privacy laws, and, with few exceptions, are not disclosed,” Warren said in his email Wednesday.
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