A man who accused his college of unfairly suspending him after a rape allegation has become the new assistant general counsel for the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Benjamin North, who maintained his innocence during the lawsuit, will now oversee cases involving sex discrimination in the workplace.
North's hire comes just over eight years after he settled his case with the university. In 2019, a judge ruled that the college had violated its policies and Title IX, which prohibits gender discrimination at federally funded institutions. North claimed that the university had given his accuser "preferential treatment" and discriminated against him based on his sex.
Despite his past stance as an advocate for men's rights in sexual misconduct cases, North will be responsible for guiding litigation at the EEOC. The agency is facing criticism over its handling of cases involving transgender workers and disparate impact racial discrimination claims under the leadership of Chair Andrea Lucas.
Lucas has asserted new priorities at the agency, including "defending the biological and binary reality of sex and related rights." She has also instructed officials to focus on cases that align with her own priorities. This shift has raised concerns among some EEOC employees, who have expressed skepticism about North's ability to uphold the law and apply it faithfully.
North's background as an advocate for men's rights in sexual misconduct cases has been met with criticism from some who see his hiring as a concerning signal that the agency is not taking seriously claims of sex discrimination. "It sends a concerning signal to have hired somebody with his background," said an EEOC employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "We need people in that office who understand that their job is to uphold the law and apply the law faithfully."
North's role at the EEOC has sparked debate about the agency's priorities and commitment to enforcing sex discrimination laws. As he takes up his new position, critics will be watching closely to see how he handles cases involving sex discrimination in the workplace.
North's hire comes just over eight years after he settled his case with the university. In 2019, a judge ruled that the college had violated its policies and Title IX, which prohibits gender discrimination at federally funded institutions. North claimed that the university had given his accuser "preferential treatment" and discriminated against him based on his sex.
Despite his past stance as an advocate for men's rights in sexual misconduct cases, North will be responsible for guiding litigation at the EEOC. The agency is facing criticism over its handling of cases involving transgender workers and disparate impact racial discrimination claims under the leadership of Chair Andrea Lucas.
Lucas has asserted new priorities at the agency, including "defending the biological and binary reality of sex and related rights." She has also instructed officials to focus on cases that align with her own priorities. This shift has raised concerns among some EEOC employees, who have expressed skepticism about North's ability to uphold the law and apply it faithfully.
North's background as an advocate for men's rights in sexual misconduct cases has been met with criticism from some who see his hiring as a concerning signal that the agency is not taking seriously claims of sex discrimination. "It sends a concerning signal to have hired somebody with his background," said an EEOC employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "We need people in that office who understand that their job is to uphold the law and apply the law faithfully."
North's role at the EEOC has sparked debate about the agency's priorities and commitment to enforcing sex discrimination laws. As he takes up his new position, critics will be watching closely to see how he handles cases involving sex discrimination in the workplace.
The hire of Benjamin North as assistant general counsel at the EEOC is quite a mixed bag for me 
I mean, on one hand, it's good that they're moving forward with someone who's got experience with their own situation, but on the other hand, his background in men's rights and how he handled his previous case is kinda sketchy to me. Like, didn't he accuse the college of giving preferential treatment to the accuser? 
It's not exactly a good look for someone who's gonna be enforcing laws against sex discrimination.
I mean, isn't that just perpetuating the same kinds of problematic attitudes we're trying to combat in the first place? But at the same time, I get why some people would be concerned about someone with North's background handling cases, especially when it comes to sex discrimination.
What are their priorities here? Are they gonna really be working towards creating a more inclusive and equitable work environment, or are they just trying to push back against what they see as a liberal agenda? Either way, I think it's worth keeping an eye on 
. i mean, dont get me wrong, he settled his case with the university and all, but comin from where he is now to oversee sex discrimination cases? it's like a slippery slope 
. i'm worried about the perception that eeco's not takin this stuff serious enough 
like, don't you think you kinda get a free pass for being wrong? 
. EEOC is already getting roasted for its priorities under Chair Lucas, and now North's on board... it's like, can't we just focus on protecting workers' rights without all the drama? 
maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised, but I'm keeping an eye on this 
just saw this guy Benjamin North is a total joke 
he gets hired at EEOC to oversee sex discrimination cases and has a background as a men's rights advocate 
like, how does that even work out? 
I'm low-key worried about this development 
. Can't wait to see how this plays out, especially when he's dealing with cases that actually involve survivors of rape and harassment 
(just kidding, I won't hold my breath).