A Loyola professor has filed a civil suit against the university, claiming that she endured a hostile work environment.

The suit names William Thornton, chairman of the criminal justice department, Loyola University and XYZ Insurance Company as defendants.

According to the suit, Wendy Hicks, associate professor of criminal justice, filed an internal complaint of gender discrimination in September or October 2009.

The University Conciliation Committee is the governing body that would handle such complaints, according to the faculty handbook.

The suit says that after filing the internal complaint, Hicks was “continuously and intentionally harassed” by Loyola faculty and staff, including Thornton.

“Upon information and belief, defendant, William Thornton, and/or other faculty and/or staff of defendant, Loyola University New Orleans, who acted at his direction and on his behalf intentionally created a hostile work environment for your petitioner, Wendy Hicks, through acts to be proven at the trial of this matter,” the lawsuit says.

According to the lawsuit, both Loyola and the insurance company are liable for Thornton’s actions as chairman of the criminal justice department.

Hicks’ suit says that Thornton, and, in turn, Loyola as his employer, subjected her to harassment and an overall hostile work environment.

Roger White, political science professor and special assistant to the provost, said Thornton and all other parties involved have been advised not to comment on the story, “and it is to protect everyone’s interests,” he said.

According to Connie Rodriguez, languages professor and president of the Loyola chapter of the American Association of University Professors, Hicks has been on academic suspension since just after an incident on Feb. 3, 2010, in which her office in Stallings Hall was ransacked with no signs of forced entry.

It is unclear why Hicks was placed on suspension, Rodriguez said.

“I did nothing wrong,” Hicks said.

“We are trying to work with Loyola to work out a mutually beneficial agreement where Dr. Hicks can return to work, which is what she wants to do,” said Hicks’ lawyer Jeffrey Waltz.

White said he could not comment on Hicks’ status at the university. “She is a faculty member here at Loyola and enjoys the status of being a faculty member,” White said.

Hicks is on LORA as co-teaching three criminal justice courses this semester.

According to Waltz, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal agency that enforces the U.S. government’s employment discrimination laws, is currently investigating the charges of gender discrimination.

James Ryan, spokesman for the EEOC, declined to comment on the investigation, citing federal law that forbids even the acknowledgement of the existence of an EEOC investigation.

Gita Bolt, Loyola’s general counsel, declined to comment on the lawsuit and the EEOC investigation.

“In compliance with university policy, the university does not comment on pending litigation or personnel matters,” Bolt said.

Masako Hirsch and Jean-Paul Arguello can be reached at [email protected] and [email protected]