One of the Michigan State University signs signifying where campus starts, located on the intersection of Grand River Ave and Bogue St, taken on Mar. 18, 2022.
—Native American Institute interim director Christie Poitra resigned from her position at MSU on Wednesday, according to the Lansing State Journal.
Poitra sent an email to her bosses informing them of her resignation and that her last day will be May 24, the LSJ reported on Wednesday.
According to the LSJ, Poitra wrote in the email, “By resigning, I am freed from this deeply dysfunctional situation. No more: stalking; veiled threats; filthy texts; ableist slurs; racial epithets; cleaning the sexual lubricants; calculated inaction; being repeatedly intimidated by my white and male supervisor telling me that my unit (staffed with Native and Black women) is a ‘dead office’; gaslighting; deliberate understaffing; grossly inequitable pay; calculated exclusion from college-level resources, information and support; reduced budget; damage to my reputation; missed holidays; and illnesses from the stress of navigating this hostile environment.”
Poitra previously filed a complaint to sue the university due to sexual harassment and discrimination from her former boss John Norder. It has been nearly three years since Poitra first filed a complaint against Norder through the Office of Institutional Equity, or OIE.
MSU spokespersons did not respond to The State News’ request for comment at the time of publication.
Poitra has been on family medical leave from the university since November 2021. During her leave, Poitra’s mental and physical health have improved which helped with her decision to resign, according to the LSJ.
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