UPDATE:
Former Vice President for Human Resources and Title IX Coordinator Sandy Chung has taken a new position as executive director for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Oregon. The announcement was made on Jan. 5, and Chung will join the organization in February. Chung will be leading the organization's efforts to “defend and advance civil rights and liberties across Oregon communities”, according to the statement made by ACLU of Oregon.
Sandy Chung, Title IX Coordinator and Vice President for Human Resources, will leave the University of Portland in January. Chung, whose July 1 Beacon op-ed on "racism, sexism and tokenism" within the administration sparked the Board of Regents to launch an investigation, has worked at UP for five years. That investigation is still ongoing.
The news came this morning in a campus wide email signed by Board of Regents Chairs Thomas Arndorfer and Kay Toran, and University President Fr. Mark Poorman.
The email said Chung will begin planning the transition of her responsibilities today, and will officially leave UP January 15. Chung, who said that she would be leaving to pursue “new endeavors,” thanked students and faculty for her experiences over the past five years.
“Even after leaving UP, I will treasure the efforts of UP community members to create a beloved community of care and support, a community where we recognize the inherent dignity of each person,” she wrote.
Chung also mentioned the investigation, currently being conducted by an unnamed third party.
“I appreciate the serious approach that the Board of Regents has taken in response to my concerns expressed in The Beacon article on July 1st and trust that appropriate steps will be taken when the investigation is completed,” she said.
Today’s email from Arndorfer, Toran and Poorman expressed confidence in the investigation.
“The investigator is continuing to gather information,” the email said, “and once the investigation is completed, the Board of Regents and administrative leadership will take appropriate steps to address the investigator's findings consistent with our community's values and policies.”
Chung was unusually candid for a UP administrator answering student questions at the ASUP Senate Meeting on November 9. Chung said that one of the most needed changes at UP would be the composition of the Board of Regents and how it operates.
“Our board needs to be a true governing board, and it needs to reflect actual diversity that’s on campus right now,” Chung told the senators. “Because the board doesn’t. And if they don’t reflect the diversity, there’s no way they can understand in any way what students are going through, what your experiences are. And if they don’t have that understanding, they can’t effectively govern.”
Prior to working at the University of Portland, Chung served as Director of Employee and Labor Relations at Stanford University. Chung graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School and is a member of the California and Oregon state bars.
As Title IX Coordinator and Vice President for Human Resources, Chung leaves two key positions vacant. It’s been a tumultuous year for the University due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which triggered a 25% revenue deficit this fall, resulting in furloughs on many UP employees.
Austin De Dios contributed to this story.
Gabi DiPaulo is the Editor-in-Chief of The Beacon. She can be reached at dipaulo21@up.edu.
