Social work professor files federal lawsuit against Wichita State, administrators
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...
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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
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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