A former vice president at Hollins University is claiming he was fired in retaliation for his support of Jewish students, who said they encountered antisemitism on campus that was sparked by the Israel-Hamas war.
Steven Laymon was terminated because of 鈥渁n anti-Jewish discriminatory animus鈥 at Hollins, according to a lawsuit that seeks $5 million.
Laymon was hired in 2021 as Hollins鈥 vice president for graduate programs and continuing studies. A practicing Jew, he later became the faculty adviser for the Jewish Student Association.
Laymon
His relationship with the administration began to sour after he organized a 鈥渕oment of silence and reflection鈥 following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, the lawsuit alleges. The ceremony included a cantor from a local synagogue who sang religious Hebrew songs.
Laymon performed religious practices at the event but says he made no political statements about the conflict.
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鈥淎fter this public display of his Jewish religion, including protected activities, Laymon noticed his normally cordial and collegial relationship with (Hollins) president (Mary) Hinton to have significantly altered,鈥 according to the lawsuit filed May 21 in 麻花视频 County Circuit Court.
In a statement Monday, Hollins denied the accusations.
Tensions described in the lawsuit are similar to what has happened on other college campuses across the country, where students have participated in pro-Palestine demonstrations, said Tommy Strelka, an attorney with Virginia Employment Law who represents Laymon.
As the war escalated with repeated Israeli military strikes on Gaza, Laymon reported to Hinton concerns he had heard from Jewish students who felt they were being targeted and harassed by students because of their religious faith.
The students were reluctant to meet openly with Hinton because of what they perceived to be an 鈥渁nti-Israel sentiment on campus,鈥 the lawsuit alleges.
Although Hinton agreed to meet privately with the students, the lawsuit contends, she did not appear concerned by their reports.
On Jan. 26, 2024, Laymon was told there was 鈥渘o way forward鈥 for him at the university, based in part of his failure to reverse the declining number of graduate students that began during the 2020 pandemic 鈥 an accusation he denies.
Hollins has not filed a response in court because the lawsuit has not yet been served.
But a statement from the school鈥檚 attorney, Victor Cardwell of Woods Rogers, said the complaint 鈥渓everages multiple false claims, including disturbing accusations of antisemitism.鈥
鈥淲e unequivocally affirm that all actions taken regarding the former employee were for legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons,鈥 the statement continues. 鈥淗ollins fully supports and embraces students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds, experiences, and religious beliefs.鈥
In his lawsuit, Laymon claims that Hinton 鈥渜uestioned his commitment to Hollins and accused him of being overly preoccupied with the needs of a 鈥榳ider community,鈥 which Laymon understood as a reference to his protected activities under the law,鈥 the lawsuit alleges.
After Laymon detailed concerns that he was the victim of religious discrimination, he contends, Hollins immediately terminated on Jan. 31, 2024.
Laymon, who is from Charlottesville, is seeking reinstatement to his job. The lawsuit, which asserts violations of the Virginia Human Rights Act, also demands compensation for his lost wages and other damages.
