Dartmouth Prevails|Over Professor

BOSTON (CN) - A theater professor did not prove Dartmouth College discriminated against her on the basis of her gender, the 1st Circuit ruled.

Mara Sabinson went on a yearlong sabbatical after serving a 3-year stint as chair of the theater department.

Reviews of her shows were positive, but reviews of her management style were not. Her critics called her a "corrosive" force whose management style caused a "high level of acrimony" among her "demoralized" peers.

Instead of teaching advanced acting and directing the main production, Sabinson was asked to teach Acting for the Camera and first-year writing seminars.

Sabinson alleged that Dean Grenoble assembled a biased review committee and instructed it improperly. Her arguments did not convince the trial court or Judge Boudin.

"Sabin offered no direct evidence of religious, gender, or age-based discrimination," the judge ruled.

Also, Miner ruled that Sabinson's complaint did not cause the reduced assignments, because the assignments "were the carrying on of a plan avowed well before the complaint."

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