Fired UNC Greensboro Administrator Fights Back

A UNCG administrator who was fired last week is appealing that decision, saying that her race and age played a role in her dismissal.

Edna Chun was the human resources director during the time that two photographers and their supervisor were fired and arrested for allegedly working freelance jobs on university time.

Greensboro attorney Seth Cohen represents Chun and says she was singled out from other administrators, because others were either demoted or given a chance to leave the university without being fired.

“Ms. Chun had absolutely nothing to do with the arrest of the three employees from university relations and she was a minor player in the firings,” says Cohen, who also represented Lyda Carpen, one of three employees Mason fired last year.

“Chun is 68 years-old and she is an Asian-American and she believes that's the reason she was treated differently and that's why she has asked for a hearing to determine if that was, in fact, the reason,” says Cohen.

Chun says she was also pressured by UNCG top leaders not to act on complaints against Paul Mason, who was the supervisor of the fired employees who became known as the UNCG 3.

UNCG spokesman Joe Gallehugh says university officials are waiting to see Chun's grievance before they issue a statement.  

Chun's appeal hearing could be open to the public if she and the grievance committee approve it. Her attorney says she wants it open.

Follow Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news