Social work professor files federal lawsuit against Wichita State, administrators
File Photo by Easton Thompson / The Sunflower
Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Combating Human Trafficing Karen Countryman-Roswurm speaks to a writer from The Sunflower in 2019 about the importance of giving students the opportunity to work with victims directly during an interview in Lindquist Hall.
The Founder of the Center for Combatting Human Trafficking, Karen Countryman-Roswurm, filed a federal lawsuit Monday
against Wichita State University and several administrators citing “years of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.”
The 115-page lawsuit details allegations of male colleagues in the department of social work spreading falsehoods that she traded sexual favors for advancement in the university, and of administrators failing to follow university policy regarding discrimination and harrassment. The lawsuit also claims she received negative statements regarding her Native American heritage and faced retaliation from the university when the instances were reported, among other allegations.
When asked about the lawsuit Wednesday afternoon, President Rick Muma had no comment.
Countryman-Roswurm, associate professor of social work, talked about her experiences in January 2020 during her opening remarks at a local conference on combatting human trafficking. The harassment allegedly started in 2013, when she was an assistant professor, and continued through present time.
The lawsuit accuses Fred Besthorn, professor of social work, of defamation of character, alleging that false statements made by him caused Countryman-Roswurm harm, including her termination as the executive director of the Center for Combatting Human Trafficking.
Besthorn allegedly suggested that Countryman-Roswurm had sex with dean-level administrators to advance in the school, saying that “Native women are known for trading sex to get what they want.”
The lawsuit details that Countryman-Roswurm frequently reported the harassment to then-Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences Ron Matson, who suggested she not report the cases as it could affect her job and application for tenure.
Countryman-Roswurm has individually sued University President Rick Muma, Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Andrew Hippisley, Director of the School of Social Work Kyoung Lee and Vice President for Strategic Engagement and Planning Kaye Monk-Morgan. The lawsuit says all parties had knowledge of the discimination, harassment and retaliation, but failed to take any actions, citing “evil motive or reckless indifference.”
Andrew Hippisley allegedly told Countryman-Roswurm in 2018 that she was lucky to have her job and salary “as a woman” and that she should stop complaining about the discrimination and harassment.
The lawsuit also claims that Muma, who was the provost at the time, encouraged Countryman-Roswurm to not pursue any of her complaints. He allegedly told her that it would be better for her to “let go of it.”
Countryman-Roswurm has worked at the university since 2010.
“Wichita State University recently learned of the lawsuit filed by current employee Karen Countryman-Roswurm,” a university spokesperson said in an email to The Sunflower. “The university is committed to preventing and eliminating misconduct, including all forms of discrimination, harassment and retaliation, within the university community. In support of this commitment, the university maintains and relies on a robust system of resources, policies and procedures.
“We are reviewing the allegations and preparing to defend the case vigorously.”
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the conference on combatting human trafficking took place in February of 2020. It actually took place in January of 2020. This version of the story reflects those changes.
Lindsay Smith is the former editor-in-chief and newsletter editor for The Sunflower. Smith was a journalism major at Wichita State with a minor in creative...
Anonymous • Nov 14, 2022 at 11:43 pm
l have alot of work/job but where to start from l donot know some jast steal us and put us in proison so can you give me directives
FRANK • Nov 12, 2021 at 11:39 am
Grade AA+ SSD Chemical Solution ,,,,,,+27768478618 For Cleaning and Washing Coated Fake Notes in Gauteng, Limpopo, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, OMAN Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, North West, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Austria ,,,,,,+27768478618 Grade AA+ SSD Chemical Solution ,,,,,,+27768478618 For Cleaning and Washing Coated Fake Notes in Gauteng, Limpopo, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, North West, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Australia, Malaysia, Kenya, England, German, Spain, Jamaica, Brazil, Germany, Denmark, Wales, France, Norway, Sweden, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Canada, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Switzerland, Swaziland, Armenia, Belgium, Botswana, Zambia, Mauritius, Mauritania, Bahamas, Malta, Netherlands, Nepal, New Zealand, Reunion Island, Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, Fiji, Greenland, Georgia, Guam, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Tuvalu, Uganda, Virgin Islands (U.S.), Virgin Islands (British), Vanuatu, Zimbabwe, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, York, Belfast, Sheffield, City of London, Cambridge, Nottingham, Oxford, Newcastle, Leeds, Bath, Coventry, Portsmouth, Aberdeen, Leicester, Brighton, Plymouth, Southampton, Swansea, Plymouth, Kingston upon Hull, Wolverhampton, Derby, Stock City, Exeter, Norwich, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Westminster, Winchester, Worcester, Worcestershire, Inverness, Durham, Dundee, City of Westminster, Reading, Salisbury, Bradford, Newport, Brighton and Hove, Lincoln, Perth, Londonderry, Chichester, Chester, Greater Manchester, St Albans, Peterborough, Lisburn, Gloucester, Bristol.,,,,,,+27768478618 As one of the fastest growing money cleaning company in world, we offer smart SSD solutions and as our company is still growing and innovating. Running successfully from Last 10 years with Indian and Foreign experts with State Of the Art labs and machines. We offer the Cheapest Chemicals on% Bases All Over the World. We have a variety of SSD chemicals that can clean out your deface Notes perfectly, Black Note, Red Notes, Green Notes, Stained Notes, Stamped Notes & Also Coded Notes. We also Melt Frozen Chemicals in our dispensary and our services are professional and Genuine. We lease out cleaning machines worldwide and we can work on commission basis. Expert Agents Available to travel worldwide. Our 3D laser automatic black money cleaning machine is available for rent / hire / sales to perform any defaced blackened money cleaning both local and international. We’ll travel our expert technician with this machine to your country anywhere. Activation powder refers to a reactivation member of the SSD chemical products which is been pour and rob all over damaged notes; bills like USD and blacks EURO, POUNDS, transferring colours from used note to new white bills. Please inform us immediately on Call: ,,,,,,+27768478618 United Kingdom, United States, Mexico, Italy, Brazil, Poland, Denmark, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Honduras, South Africa, Uganda, Slovakia, Slovenia, Russia, Argentina, Armenia, Ukrainian, Costa Rica, Iceland, Philippines, France, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belarus, Bolivia, Brunei, British Virgin Islands, Czech Republic, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, Scotland, Fiji, Faroe Islands, Falkland Islands, Georgia, North Macedonia and All Countries. Please inform us immediately on Email: [email protected] Or Call:,,,,,+27768478618 Careers ,,,,,,++27768478618 SSD CHEMICAL… ,,,,,,+27768478618 SSD CHEMICAL SOLUTION 4 SALE IN NORTHERN CAPE,EASTERN CAPE,KIMBERLEY,KURUMAN,EAST LONDON,QUEENSTOWN,PORT ELIZABETH,KING WILLIAMS TOWN,UPINGTON @LIMPOPO SSD CHEMICAL SOLUTION IN SOUTH AFRICA,,,,,,+27768478618)),!!ssd chemical in kuwait,,,,,,+27768478618 ,buy ssd chemical in uk ,,,,,,++27768478618 , ssd chemical in dubai,,,,,,+27768478618 ,ssd chemical in qator ,,,,,,+27768478618,ssd chemical in germany,,,,,,+27768478618,ssd chemical in brazil,,,,,,+27768478618, Cape Town Centurion Durban East LondonGeorge Germiston Ibhayi Johannesburg Katlehong Kempton Park Khayelitsha Kimberley Nelspruit Newcastle Pietermaritzburg Pinetown Polokwane Port Elizabeth Potchefstroom Pretoria Randburg Roodepoort Rustenburg Sebokeng Soshanguve Soweto Springbok Stellenbosch Tembisa Vanderbijlpark Vereeniging Welkom Witbank Eastern Cape Free State Gauteng KwaZulu-Natal Limpopo Mpumalanga Zambia, Zimbabwe in Johannesburg, London, England, UK, USA, California, South Africa, Cape Town, Pretoria,+27768478618 Zambia, Lusaka, Zimbabwe, Harare, Namibia, Windhoek, Botswana Call to purchase Best SSD Solution Clean Black Notes Dollars WE ALSO? SALE CHEMICALS LIKE SSD AUTOMATIC SOLUTION FORM CLEANING BLACK DOLLARS CURRENCIES. I hereby use this media to inform you, that our company can clean out black deface currency, (stained money) bank notes, We have all kinds of chemicals used for cleaning of black money or stained money in currencies such as U. S Dollar, Euro, Pound, and all local currencies, even if your defaced note is 25 years old, WE SALE CHEMICALS LIKE TOURMALINE, S. S. D. Chemical / Solution , CASTRO X OXIDE, A4. AND MANY Like ACTIVATION POWDER & SSD SOLUTION FOR CLEANING BLACK MONEY Chemical and Allied product incorporated is a major manufacturer of industrial and pharmaceutical products with key specialization in the production of S. S. D Automatic solution used in the cleaning of black money, defaced money and stained bank notes with anti-breeze quality. OTHERS FOR DAMAGED NOTES, BILLS LIKE USD,EURO,,,,,,+27768478618
mbuga • Nov 4, 2021 at 2:22 pm
DX-1 SSD Solution and Activation Powder in South Africa +27735257866 Zambia,Zimbabwe,Botswana,Lesotho,Swaziland,Kenya,Namibia,Qatar,Egypt,UAE,USA,UK,Turkey,Hong Kong,China,Ethiopia,Eritrea,Sudan,Morocco,Brunei,Japan,Tanzania,Thailand,Algeria,Tunisia,Bahamas,Taiwan,Indonesia,Singapore,Somalia,Angola,Mozambique,Palau,Lithuania,Malaysia,Myanmar,Spain,Kuwait,Fiji,Jordan,Yemen,Bahrain,Philippines,Israel,Syria,Italy,DRC.. We do offer the best professional services. We are willing to travel to do the job once consultation is done and approval made. Please call Agent Mbuga +27735257866 OR Email [email protected] http://mbugassdsolution.website2.me https://ssdsolution658879496.wordpress.com https://paparazaq.blogspot.com http://bestssdchemicalsolution.over-blog.com We are chemical laboratory like Vectrol paste/Tebi-Manetic solution/Castro X oxide, activation powder for cleaning all Technicians based in South Africa incorporated in the manufacturer of industrial and pharmaceutical products with key specialization in the production of S.S.D Automatic solution.We Sale Chemicals SSD Solution kinds of defaced currency based on the year of the money. Our technicians are highly qualified and are always ready to handle the cleaning perfectly either by a machine based on the year of production. Our Chemicals is 100% pure.We clean all types of black note or defaced note,anti-air breezed powders and other many products used in cleaning defaced currency process .
Jane Q. Public • Nov 4, 2021 at 9:58 am
WSU Library may have a copy.
Sam McCrory • Oct 29, 2021 at 8:58 pm
This reeks of feminist fantasy. I do not believe her. It may be true, but it sounds really suspicious.
CommonSenseAmie • Oct 30, 2021 at 6:49 pm
Bless your heart
GDW • Nov 10, 2021 at 8:52 am
What makes is suspicious? What’s suspicious is when one of your bosses breaks into your office looking for something to use against you and his bosses boss (you know, the president of the university) tells her she should let it go. She has asked for a safe working environment since 2013, maybe it’s time? At the bottom of the Kansas.com article is the entire 115 page Complaint. Maybe take a few minutes to make a more informed decision.
https://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article255341071.html
Lydia Carol • Oct 29, 2021 at 6:22 am
HACK VANISH Credit specialist did it for me. Before the coronavirus pandemic, I had criminal Judgments, few evictions, and missed / late payment which negatively impacted my credit score down to 487 and left me in difficult financial situation, as a single mum of 3, I needed a loan to keep the family running after I lost my husband as a result of COVID-19, all hope were lost, until Mr. Kannan and Olivia reassured and referred me to HACK VANISH, a credit genius who was very helpful in fixing my report after I reached out to him via: Email: hackvanish (At) gmail (Dot) com and text/call +1(650) 499 5548, I carefully followed his protocols, throughout the process which lasted for about 6 days, I felt so involved because he maintained an open line of communication till I got my score back to 796, currently my loan application has been approved, I can now give my kids better life. If you need to hire a hacker, HACK VANISH is highly recommended.
Elle • Oct 29, 2021 at 5:07 am
The university is committed to preventing and eliminating misconduct, including all forms of discrimination, harassment and retaliation, within the university community.”
Doesn’t sound like it.
Dr. Countryman-Roswurm passed some of the most comprehensive legislation I have ever seen in the US protecting Kansas youth from ‘prostitution and solicitation’ charges. In fact, she changed the very definition to accurate reflect our children as exploited youth. That is just one of her many accomplishments yet that alone should have proved to anyone and everyone why she was a shooting star at WSU and an invaluable asset to the university.
Dr. Countryman-Roswurm knows the law, she knows her rights, she has a strong supportive community, and she fights to win. I hope she gets the justice she deserves, and is restored all her rights and privileges as the founding director of the Center for Combating Human Trafficking so she can continue to fight for our most vulnerable in peace.
Shame on Wichita State and the School of Social Work.
I have no doubt in my mind all of the administrators and faculty had opportunity after opportunity to prove they truly were committed to preventing and eliminating discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in the past. I hope the courts ensure that WSU keeps to this promise in the future.
Amy • Oct 28, 2021 at 9:25 am
I’m not surprised by what goes on behind the scenes of any place… or private/public institutions, companies, city/state/government offices. People of all sorts can be cruel in manner and unfair but you expect civility amongst professionals especially in an institution of learning. Those who’ve done what they’re accused of should be held accountable for it like anyone else would be in other workplace environment. She needs witnesses or proof to validate her accusations otherwise it is merely a case of “he said, she said”.
past victim • Oct 28, 2021 at 11:51 pm
It is true that you need proof. However, as a victim of sexual harassment and discriminatory treatment from my direct supervisor at WSU, I doubt the university cares about the “he said, she said” scenario as they have been made aware of multiple sexual harassment complaints throughout the years and didn’t really protect the victims. As a result of attempting to make formal complaints of the sexual harassment and discriminatory behaviors to higher administrators, my colleagues and I experienced retaliatory treatment, direct verbal and physical threats, stalking and defamation of character rumors to discredit our professionalism until we had no choice but to resign. Like many others before us, we didn’t really know our rights and left in silence.
CommonSenseAmie • Oct 29, 2021 at 4:38 pm
The case would not have gone federal if it were flimsy…
Use some logic, read the entire 119 page case. It is available. The reason men get away with it is because they stand together and women try to make nice. It’s time we stood together, making nice has not made any of us safe.
Nosy • Nov 3, 2021 at 12:05 am
How do we access the document?
Jane Q. Public • Nov 4, 2021 at 11:58 am
The WSU library may have a copy.
GDW • Nov 10, 2021 at 8:55 am
It is at the bottom of the story:
https://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article255341071.html