Former Providence College DEI staffer files discrimination charge against school. Here's why.

Amy Russo, Providence Journal
Updated ·3 min read
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E. Corry Kole, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion staffer at Providence College who recently resigned, has filed a discrimination charge against the school.

Kole, who is nonbinary, made the filing with the state Commission for Human Rights on Monday, alleging "they experienced direct, repeated, patterned and systemic discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity."

Kole was PC's director of DEI education and professional development for three and a half years until resigning in early March. Kole plans to speak publicly about the discrimination charge on Wednesday afternoon near the college campus.

What does the lawsuit claim?

The filing, a copy of which The Providence Journal obtained, Kole claims they were told, "You are too liberal for this college. You cannot identify as queer," and was discouraged from using they/them pronouns in public. (The filing does not name the person who allegedly made those statements.)

The filing also claims the college repeatedly stymied Kole's work, scanned their Facebook page for evidence to justify firing them, allowed campus safety to intentionally misgender them, threatened disciplinary action against them for organizing events during LGBTQ+ Awareness Week, and caused anxiety so intense that Kole eventually took medical leave.

Students walk to class on the Providence College campus, where tensions between the school's administration and LGBTQ+ community have flared recently.
Students walk to class on the Providence College campus, where tensions between the school's administration and LGBTQ+ community have flared recently.

"Providence College has been given multiple chances to address my client’s complaints of discrimination," said Kole's attorney, Joseph Daigle. "It declined to act. Filing a charge of discrimination with the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is the only remaining means available to E Corry Kole to obtain justice."

Providence College responds

"E.’s role, as a member of the college’s Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, involved working and collaborating with our Office of Mission and Ministry to provide a host of services and range of care to our community," PC spokesman Steven Maurano said in a statement. "We have not had time to review in detail the formal charge, but we look forward to addressing unsubstantiated claims of discrimination."

Claim comes amid wider conflict between PC and LGBTQ+ community

Kole's charge falls against the backdrop of a much larger longstanding conflict between the Catholic college's administration and its LGBTQ+ community. A story in this week's Providence Sunday Journal found numerous instances in which LGBTQ+ expression had been curbed because of Catholic doctrine or concerns from more conservative voices, causing a major divide between school leadership and students, faculty and staff.

More: Catholic Providence College is at a crossroads with its LGBTQ+ community

Shortly after Kole resigned, an open letter signed by nearly 1,000 students, alumni, faculty and staff circulated online. The letter, addressed to President Fr. Kenneth Sicard, called for a more inclusive and respectful environment for LGBTQ+ people, and claimed that "senior leadership at the college thwarted [Kole's] efforts to fulfill their job description."

Earlier this month, Sicard released a lengthy statement that supported the LGBTQ+ community while also affirming that the college stands by its Catholic teachings. Sicard, in a subsequent interview with the Journal, said campus was not a place of total free expression.

Update: Kole gives first public remarks near campus gates

Kole gave their first public statement to media on Wednesday afternoon near the main entrance to Providence College. Kole said their experience was "not an isolated event."

"The reality that quickly became clear to me was that while PC was happy to take students' money and to enjoy the reputation of being inclusive, it is and has always been opposed to living out those ideals," Kole said.

Daigle said his client has a strong case and that while such cases usually result in monetary settlements, Kole is seeking actual policy change at the school to make it a truly inclusive environment.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence College's former DEI leader files discrimination charge against school