UW-L discrimination complaint settled

School issued a letter of apology, offered back jobs

It was over a year ago, that Sandra Sieber first field a discrimination complaint with the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Now, however, it appears that the dispute has been settled.

The incident began back in April 2014, when Sieber, a 30-year employee at the university, was looking for a promotion. She, however, was passed up for it by Kim Pierce, the wife of associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, Fred Pierce.

So, Sieber filed a discrimination complaint, and her boss, Jay Lokken, also objected to the hiring process, filing a complaint.

After the initial filing, the two then claimed Fred Pierce retaliated by moving them into different jobs, and the university made disparaging comments about their job performance thereafter.

The fight went to a state agency, and, as of Monday, the dispute was settled, as the university apologized in a letter.

Sieber and Lokken were reimbursed back pay and attorney’s fees. UW-L also created a new position for Sieber, while Lokken was offered his old job back, as head of International Education, but he doesn’t want it.

Also, Fred Pierce will not be given any say in what jobs Lokken and Sieber hold on campus.