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my relative is lying about race to get a job in my department
Ask a Manager ^ | 7-25-22 | Alison Green

Posted on 07/25/2022 8:42:13 AM PDT by Brookhaven

A reader writes:

A relative I haven’t spoken to in years is fraudulently applying to my department at a large university. To put it simply, this is a potential Rachael Dolezal situation. “Connie” is applying for a research and teaching position in my department. Her mother was married to my uncle for about 15 years and for 15 years I spent most weekends and every holiday and summer with Connie. We were quite close as kids.

For full clarity: Connie is white. She is not an immigrant, she is not adopted, and both of her parents come from white, American multi-generational wealth. There is not a hospital, museum, or major university in our city without her family name on at least one building. Her mother and my uncle got divorced quite a while ago, but our mothers are still very good friends. Connie and I lost touch as we grew up but reconnected on social media a few years ago.

When we were introduced in the interview, she pretended not to know me. During her team interview with me, two department chairs, and four other faculty, Connie spoke passionately about being a white-passing woman of color who has to confront racism daily, and how her past struggles with an impoverished upbringing as an immigrant in the U.S. have shaped her teaching values. I was speechless the entire time. Her resume is impressive, which makes me concerned she’s been lying to get certain grants/opportunities or that her resume is false.

The two department chairs were very impressed with her, a few people are neutral, and the rest seemed uncomfortable during the interview and passed on notes saying such. How do I approach this? I’m struggling with ethics vs optics: it’s unethical to put Connie forward as a voice for an underrepresented student population and an expert on certain racial and social justice movements and issues. My mentor (an older white male) told me to stay out of it because the optics are poor. I’m white, and I have had a privileged life that allows me to live comfortably on an academic salary. It would look like I’m attacking a candidate based on race in a predominantly white department. Regardless of optics, I would be complicit in this unethical situation if I didn’t say anything and she’s offered the job. So far nobody else has been invited to interview.


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: dolenz; privilege; white
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To: GeorgiaDawg32

Digital recorders are cheap and effective.


21 posted on 07/25/2022 8:48:24 AM PDT by marktwain
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To: Brookhaven

I’d consult Sen. Warren on what to do in this situation.

Or, even maybe that big phoney Barackie O.


22 posted on 07/25/2022 8:48:29 AM PDT by Leep (Hillary will NEVER be president! 😁)
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To: Hojczyk

If you’re gay AND black, then you’re a shoo-in.


23 posted on 07/25/2022 8:48:52 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Brookhaven

Leave it alone.

I’m feeling a little black myself today but I’m mostly, well part, American Indian and that never did me any good either.

Tomorrow I may be a Punjab or something. You just never know these days.

Of course there is the fact that I was born a poor black child.


24 posted on 07/25/2022 8:48:54 AM PDT by Sequoyah101 (Politicians are only marginally good at one thing, being politicians. Otherwise they are fools.)
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To: cgbg

Or.

“When you tolerate bad behavior, do not be surprised when you get bad behavior”.

It’s really just that simple.


25 posted on 07/25/2022 8:49:53 AM PDT by Howie66 (Let's Go Brandon!!)
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To: Sequoyah101
Of course there is the fact that I was born a poor black child.

"You mean I'm gonna stay this color?"

26 posted on 07/25/2022 8:49:57 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: marktwain

True. Just saying, if there is no proof (whether in writing or by digital recorder), bad stuff can happen.


27 posted on 07/25/2022 8:50:19 AM PDT by GeorgiaDawg32 (q11)
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To: Brookhaven

Since affirmative action is illegal, wrong and unconstitutional, pretending to belong to a privileged group is not morally wrong.


28 posted on 07/25/2022 8:52:04 AM PDT by I want the USA back (Damn it! We need Trump! America First!)
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To: Brookhaven

I’d say let her have the job, White people are being discriminated against so It’s a great strategy to play the game as others are doing.

In fact, you should say you are related and ask for that promotion you always wanted, as a person of color.


29 posted on 07/25/2022 8:52:07 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: dfwgator

Gay, black tranny for the win!


30 posted on 07/25/2022 8:52:29 AM PDT by dynachrome (“We cannot save Ukraine by dooming the US economy.” Rand Paul)
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To: Brookhaven
First, I’m assuming that you know this is definitely the
same Connie you grew up with. Assuming that’s the case,
say something.


Right. Wouldn't you at least acknowledge that you know her?



31 posted on 07/25/2022 8:53:11 AM PDT by Tommy Revolts
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To: Brookhaven

I say Let it go! Let it go!
What she’s doing is not honorable, but
this is somebody trying to survive financially.
Stay out of that particular hiring process as much as is possible.


32 posted on 07/25/2022 8:53:14 AM PDT by lee martell
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To: Brookhaven

My wife was born and raised on the Crow Agency in Montana and refuses to put down race on any form (as do our kids). The amount of white people pretending to be American Indian has gotten ridiculous.


33 posted on 07/25/2022 8:54:00 AM PDT by Troublemaker
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To: Brookhaven

My mother had parents of Western Asian origin who were contractually ineligible to live in many neighborhoods.

Some of my relatives are quite dark-skinned.

My skin color obviously comes from Irish-English father.

People in New Orleans are quite likely to have some African heritage even if they are considered white.


34 posted on 07/25/2022 8:54:59 AM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: dfwgator

Only if I feel like it and it serves me well.


35 posted on 07/25/2022 8:55:10 AM PDT by Sequoyah101 (Politicians are only marginally good at one thing, being politicians. Otherwise they are fools.)
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To: dfwgator

Judd Nelson?


36 posted on 07/25/2022 8:56:15 AM PDT by nwrep
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To: Hojczyk

‘It is better to say I”m GAY...’

I know a friend who has used that same ploy, and you’d be amazed at how attitudes change when you play a trump card.

And in this situation, I’m going to step up and say she should confront her “friend.” Don’t be passive-aggressive, if she was your friend, confront her privately.


37 posted on 07/25/2022 8:56:41 AM PDT by Not_Who_U_Think
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To: Brookhaven

That’s the world we live in. Her perceived identity IS now her actual identity and her resume in a woke world. Lets face it, you said her achievements were very good but your worried that she’s pulling a Liz Warren. In today’s reality shes doing what she has to do to get the job because her actual skin color automatically disqualifies her. I hope she gets the job.


38 posted on 07/25/2022 8:57:03 AM PDT by fightin kentuckian
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To: Sequoyah101; Brookhaven
You beat me to the Steve Martin reference, so I have to resort to this...


39 posted on 07/25/2022 8:57:11 AM PDT by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
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To: Brookhaven
You need to tell your cousin to withdraw her application and that if she does, you'll keep your mouth shut about her fraud. She put you in a very bad situation because you have an obligation to report known fraud. It's worse when it's the same employer. If she was doing this to the place down the street, who knows?

If she doesn't withdraw her application, you'll need to report her. Yes, blood is thicker than water but dragging an unwilling family member into a crime shows how little she thinks of family bonds.

40 posted on 07/25/2022 8:58:04 AM PDT by T.B. Yoits
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