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Senate administrative assistant resigns, citing 'repeated workplace harassment'
In brief
by Robert D'Andrea | News Reporter
Oregon Action Team Campaign Manager Derek Nix resigned from his position as Student Senate administrative assistant Monday citing "repeated workplace harassment."
"I am leaving my position with the ASUO effective immediately due to verbal conduct in my workplace that could reasonably be interpreted as an intent to cause professional harm to my position in the ASUO and worse, to my personal safety," Nix wrote in his resignation letter.
He wrote that the harassment "culminated Thursday when Senator (Nate) Gulley threatened me with physical injury."
Gulley denied threatening Nix with physical injury in an interview Tuesday.
"Absolutely not," Gulley said. "That was a complete lie. But I think that during the last week he has proven himself to be a complete liar."
Nix came under fire last week after a campaign missive he sent to Oregon Action Team candidates was leaked to senators.
In the e-mail, Nix told his candidates to come to campus wearing the color of the opposing Rock the Yellow slate and to write letters to the Emerald arguing against "special interest groups" on campus. He also wrote that the letters should be signed with false names.
Nix later apologized, saying, "I messed up with that e-mail. It was not professional whatsoever."
At last Wednesday's Senate meeting, Gulley said he had no confidence in Nix' ability to continue in his position as administrative assistant. Sen. Nick Meyers said the e-mail was not related to Nix' job duties and should not be discussed.
According to Nix' resignation, the Senate Personnel Committee is investigating his concerns.
"I am leaving my position with the ASUO effective immediately due to verbal conduct in my workplace that could reasonably be interpreted as an intent to cause professional harm to my position in the ASUO and worse, to my personal safety," Nix wrote in his resignation letter.
He wrote that the harassment "culminated Thursday when Senator (Nate) Gulley threatened me with physical injury."
Gulley denied threatening Nix with physical injury in an interview Tuesday.
"Absolutely not," Gulley said. "That was a complete lie. But I think that during the last week he has proven himself to be a complete liar."
Nix came under fire last week after a campaign missive he sent to Oregon Action Team candidates was leaked to senators.
In the e-mail, Nix told his candidates to come to campus wearing the color of the opposing Rock the Yellow slate and to write letters to the Emerald arguing against "special interest groups" on campus. He also wrote that the letters should be signed with false names.
Nix later apologized, saying, "I messed up with that e-mail. It was not professional whatsoever."
At last Wednesday's Senate meeting, Gulley said he had no confidence in Nix' ability to continue in his position as administrative assistant. Sen. Nick Meyers said the e-mail was not related to Nix' job duties and should not be discussed.
According to Nix' resignation, the Senate Personnel Committee is investigating his concerns.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 11
Avishai Micaiah
posted 3/12/08 @ 12:31 AM PST
First, I'd like to include a comment of mine to one of D'Andrea's previous aticles, as his editorializing in this instance makes it only more relevant:
"I was trying to remain objective in my commentary with regard to Nix's political aspirations since I haven't yet fully immersed myself in his beliefs and ideas, but I have to agree that it does look terribly like there are people both within the Senate and writing for the Oregon Daily Emerald who are targeting Nix with a level of intensity that has to make you wonder: What are these people afraid of? Did the "kid in the corner" taking notes as Senator Gulley so eloquently and professionally refer to Nix in Monday's article become a political threat? Is it just me or does it sound oddly aggressive and dimissive to refer to your Administrative Assistant as the "kid in the corner"? I have heard Nix resigned, and I hope in his resignation letter he resigned not from his post as "Administrative Assistant" but from his post as "The Kid in
Senate alumni
posted 3/12/08 @ 1:28 AM PST
I agree with you 100%. This article is very biased. Where is the internal document that the personnel committee is supposed to invesitgate? It should detail Nix's legitimate accusations. (Continued…)
Joseph Conner
posted 3/12/08 @ 3:03 AM PST
Robert D'Andrea is a horrible journalist and should be removed from his position with the ODE immediately. He is unable to create a decent article and it is getting worse with each published work that has his name attached. (Continued…)
Mei Li Yu
posted 3/12/08 @ 10:15 AM PST
I'm agreeing with what others are saying - this article is completely biased. It is essentially a direct target at Derek Nix without giving him much opportunity to defend himself. (Continued…)
Student
posted 3/12/08 @ 4:25 PM PST
Politics are for the greedy and power hungry. Why do you never see people that come from a poor background and are humble in politics? Because they care too much about other people to want to control their lives and gain recognition. (Continued…)
Gallons of Goop
posted 3/13/08 @ 4:03 AM PST
oh my! asuo political drama!!!!! you're all fools. look in the mirror sometime and you'll see how true it is. but you already know it and admitting it is the first step. (Continued…)
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