A wrongful termination and discrimination lawsuit has been filed today against Humboldt State University and four of its officials by the school’s former director of Indian Natural Resources Science and Engineering Program Jacquelyn Bolman, who claims she was terminated from her position after criticizing the university of poor commitment to diversity and of dismantling on-campus Native American programs.

Filed by Eureka attorney Peter Martin, the lawsuit names five defendants associated with the university — the California State University Board of Trustees, HSU President Lisa Rossbacher, Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Jenny Zorn, Senior Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs and Human Resources Colleen Mullery, and Director of HSU’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion Radha Webley.

“The people sued were the three people who carried out the termination,” Martin said. “They were sued because they were the ones that directly interfered with Dr. Bolman’s First Amendment rights and President Rossbacher was sued because they would not have acted without her authority.”

HSU Public Affairs Specialist Jared Petroske said the university has no comment at this time due to it being pending litigation.

Hired by the university in 2005, Bolman’s lawsuit states she had been defending against former HSU President Rollin Richmond’s “racist campaign to undermine and eliminate Native student programs,” according to the court document.

A call to Richmond’s current office at Chico State University was not immediately returned.

The main incident that the lawsuit claims led to Bolman’s termination was a report she wrote to the CSU Louise Stokes Alliances For Minority Participation program’s statewide office in June stating that HSU administration “has not been supportive” of HSU’s program and “does not support minority students, faculty or staff.”

The lawsuit claims that Zorn, Mullory and Webley “marched” to Bolman’s classroom, demanded the students leave the classroom and verbally informed Bolman she was being terminated for making the report and misrepresenting the university.

“We filed the lawsuit alleging retaliation for Dr. Bolman’s exercise of her First Amendment rights and retaliation for her opposing discrimination,” Martin said.

Bolman’s termination prompted hundreds to protest, with some occupying the university’s Native American Forum for over a month.

Bolman is seeking damages and her reinstatement of her position at HSU, according to Martin.

Martin said he plans to have the summons served on Friday.

Will Houston can be reached at 707-441-0504.