Protest Held at North Dakota State University Over the Treatment of Women Administrators

On September 26, a large group of students, staff, and faculy members held a rally on the campus of North Dakota State University in Fargo protesting the treatment of women faculty and administrators on campus.

The protest came on the heels of the dismissal of Canan Bilen-Green from her post as vice provost for faculty affairs and equity. In an email to the university community, officials said the position was being eliminated but that Dr. Bilen-Green would remain on the university’s faculty. Dr. Bilen-Green said she first heard of the decision, 30 minutes before the email to the campus community was sent out.

Other women have left the provost’s office at the university in recent years. This includes Beth Ingram who was asked to step down as provost in 2018. She said that she was given no reason for her dismissal. Dr. Ingram left North Dakota State University and was appointed provost at Northern Illinois University. She is now a professor of economics at Northern Illinois University.