Professor sues University of Utah for reverse discrimination

SALT LAKE CITY — A man who applied for a job at the University of Utah is suing the school for alleged reverse discrimination in its hiring practices.

In a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court District of Utah, Dr. Wyatt Felt claims the school passed him over for a job in the Mechanical Engineering Department because of the school’s diversity initiatives.

Felt claims the University of Utah did not seriously consider him as a candidate because of reverse discrimination, as applied to his gender, race, and religion.

He claims the university used demographic information obtained from his online application against him. According to Felt, the University of Utah claims that information isn’t seen by people in the hiring process.

He further claims that the University of Utah has “an elaborate system for discriminating against applicants with Dr. Felt’s protected characteristics.” 

In a statement regarding reverse discrimination claims, representatives from the University of Utah said the school hasn’t reviewed the claims.

However, they said that Felt appealed to Utah’s Anti-discrimination and Labor Division last July where his claims were said to be unfounded.

KSL NewsRadio has reached out to Felt for comment but has not heard back.

Related reading:

• University of Utah to drop ‘diversity statements’ on job postings
• Utah Board of Higher Education says public colleges are “phasing out” diversity statements from hiring process
• University of Utah project aims to protect kids from bad air

 

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