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Graduate sues university
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A recent graduate of BSU’s School of Social Work is suing the university for allegedly violating her rights to due process and free speech as well as defamation of character.
Rachel Westergren, who received her bachelor’s degree in May, said she was suspended from the department after presenting a letter detailing what she considered ethical violations to her supervisor during her senior practicum at the Capital Boulevard Apartments.
Westergren started working at the apartment complex in May of last year. The apartments are owned by the city of Boise and provide housing for low-income residents.
Westergren said she had ethical concerns with some of the aspects of her duties as a social worker at the apartments. Westergren’s responsibilities included providing case management for five residents, coordination of a food program and co-facilitating a women’s group for residents. However, in addition to her duties, Westergren said she was asked to document the sexual relationships of one of her clients and visit clients in their residences who had fallen behind in their rent payments. Westergren said she felt the purpose of her visits was to ensure that clients would pay their rent.
Westergren also said that she was concerned by the amount of rent her clients were being charged monthly. The city of Boise charges $300 to $375 for the apartments, but Westergren said a large portion of her clients’ income is used to pay rent. Westergren proposed rent be reduced for clients, but was rebuffed by administrators.
Westergren wrote her ethical concerns in a four-page letter and presented it to her supervisor on July 31. According to Westergren, Doug Yunker told her that she couldn’t raise those issues and informed her she would need to find a new placement to fulfill her internship requirements for graduation. Westergren then individually met with Practicum Director Jim Knapp, social work professor Robin Allen and social work ombudsman Margie Van Vooren regarding her “firing” from her practicum. Westergren said all three individuals were unresponsive to her ethical concerns and encouraged her to find another internship.
“I was ignored every time,” Westergren said.
Westergren landed another internship at Neighborhood Housing Services in September, but found herself suspended from practicum on October 4 with no explanation. She tried to determine the reason for her suspension to no avail until social work professor Martha Wilson, master’s program coordinator, informed Westergren that she had been suspended as a result of seven allegations of misconduct. Westergren said two of the allegations were serious: “violation of ethical principles of appropriate boundaries” and “distortion and misrepresentation of facts for student’s own benefit.”
Westergren said the department’s delayed response upset her.
“They didn’t tell me why I was suspended until two weeks after the fact,” Westergren said.
Westergren also said she was told by Wilson not to dispute the findings and take responsibility for the allegations.
As a result of the suspension, Westergren’s graduation was threatened as she needed the practicum to finish her degree.
Westergren submitted a plan for performance improvement, but said she didn’t defend herself because she was specifically instructed by Wilson not to dispute the allegations against her.
Westergren was reinstated into the practicum on October 31 and graduated from the School of Social Work last May.
After graduating, Westergren’s attorney, Thomas McGuire sent a certified letter informing Boise State of Westergren’s allegations and encouraged an out-of-court settlement. According to McGuire, BSU declined to settle, which prompted Westergren to file suit.
“This is a systemic problem and I think it’s appropriate to file a lawsuit,” McGuire said.
University counsel Amanda Horton declined to comment on Westergren’s case.
Andy Benson