The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Monday in the case of Vance v. Ball State University in which they were asked, what constitutes a work supervisor.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. However, those making claims under that law must show that the alleged harasser was a supervisor or that the company was negligent in its handling of the incident.
Maetta Vance sued Ball State claiming such harassment, but the courts found that the alleged perpetrator was not actually a supervisor. She appealed that ruling up to the Supreme Court.
Host Carmen Russell-Sluchansky spoke with Deborah Widiss, an associate professor at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, to discuss the case.
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