PSU Fired Women's Resource Center Director With No Explanation

"On a regular work day in late April, Nic Francisco-Kaho'onei, the former director of Portland State University's (PSU) Women's Resource Center (WRC), was called in for a meeting with their supervisor. Francisco-Kaho'onei was being terminated, not for disciplinary reasons, but "based on the needs of the university." Stunned, Francisco-Kaho'onei asked for cause, but was given no reason for their termination. PSU wasn't required to since Francisco-Kaho'onei was a non-union employee."

"Despite directly supporting students through that email, the WRC director was left to reach out to students over the phone to inform them of the situation. "I [texted those students], even though it was no longer my employee obligation, because I have a fucking heart," Francisco-Kaho'onei told the Mercury. "I had students I was providing direct support to and all the sudden they can't even email me. It's so harmful ... I don't think [PSU] considered that.""

"The WRC is meant to be a space of empowerment. It offers resources such as sexual health supplies, menstrual supplies, and a feminist and queer library, as well as community engagement opportunities and feminist leadership education. At least one staff member with the WRC, who requested anonymity, took a leave of absence because of Francisco-Kaho'onei's firing, citing deep changes in the WRC and a toxic culture shift."

Nic Francisco-Kaho'onei, former director of Portland State University's Women's Resource Center, was terminated in late April without disciplinary cause or explanation as a non-union employee. After the meeting they were locked out of their university email, placed on administrative leave, and had to contact students by phone; they texted students despite no longer having employee obligations. The WRC provides sexual and menstrual supplies, a feminist and queer library, community engagement, and leadership education. At least one WRC staffer took a leave citing deep changes and a toxic culture shift. PSU moved to shutter and restructure its DEI office and imposed an expedited return-to-office, prompting further staff departures and concerns about transparency and shifting values.

Read at Portland Mercury