I received a phone call while I was at work today from Heather Perfetti, Vice President of Instructional Affiars. She wanted to ask me what I thought the college should do about my rejected donation. I could not make her understand this was not about a rejected donation; this is about religious discrimination. Am I the only person who can see that when reading Mr. Baldwin's email response to my offer of a donation?

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She told me I caused them to take a look at their donation policy because I raised a good point. Yet no apology from them, not even offered, even after I informed her I had asked for this apology from the beginning of this matter.

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Ms. Perfetti begin to say something after quite a few minutes more of speaking, something along the lines of, "If that's what you want: On behalf of Allegany College..."

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I said it was a little too late considering Mr. Baldwin was the one who should be writing the apology for me, and should have been instructed to write it three weeks ago.

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I repeatedly asked, since I was at work and felt this matter was better discussed in a face-to-face meeting, if we could set one up. She repeatedly responded that I was not giving her reason enough to make an appointment for such a meeting.

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Let's ponder: I made an accusation of religious discrimination against Allegany College of Maryland; I contacted them through email as well as phone calls; I have said how insulting about my religion Mr. Baldwin was in his email response to me and forwarded the email response to the office of the President of AC as I was asked to do...and yet I have not provided Ms. Perfetti with a good enough reason to schedule a meeting so we could discuss this matter in an appropriate setting and manner.

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Even after I had informed her in a response to her email to me and again in this conversation that I had in my possession 14 photographs of religious books currently on the shelves in the AC library which directly disputed Mr. Baldwin's claims "We do not have a religion department and do not need materials supporting a particular religious denomination or viewpoint.", she replied that she was unaware of what books would be in the library.

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Wow, you are allegedly looking into a claim of religious discrimination, I point out to you I have current photos of literally a couple dozen religious books in your library, and you cannot be bothered to check this out? Seriously? That's not even enough of a reason to schedule a meeting so we can discuss this issue?

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Anyone with advice or an offer of help, please feel free to contact me. This is a serious issue, and I feel, unless I am completely wrong, it is blatantly illegal. Books about Judaism, Christianity, Voodooism, Cultism, Islam, Hinduism, Satanism, Atheism, etc are welcome on the shelves of the library but we can't have a Scientology book because "We do not have a religion department and do not need materials supporting a particular religious denomination or viewpoint."? Seriously?

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Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

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This is the email response I received from Heather Perfetti the day after our phone conversation:

Frank:

Thank you for taking the time to talk with me yesterday.  Unfortunately, I could not gather from our conversation how you wished to proceed, so I indicated I would send you some additional information via email.  First, to summarize our conversation:

1.    You first indicated that you wanted a handwritten apology from Mr. Bob Baldwin.  Then, you indicated that you were "beyond that" and had contacted legal counsel.  Again, it is unclear what you are seeking from the College or Mr. Baldwin, but I am unable to comment on any action taken regarding Mr. Baldwin as personnel matters are confidential.

2.    I offered an apology on behalf of the College for what you felt was personal mistreatment by Mr. Baldwin; your response suggested that you would not accept the apology. 

3.    You expressed a desire for a meeting.  I asked for the purpose of the meeting, and you indicated it was to see what the college could do for you.  I asked for clarification, and you did not provide any.  While it was not clear whether you are currently represented by legal counsel, I indicated that if you had an attorney, communication would be better facilitated through your legal agent and the College’s. 

4.    You then indicated you were unable to speak any longer because you were with a customer, and our conversation was cut short.

As I stated by phone yesterday, I supervise the library, and we, as a College, are reviewing the donated materials policy for the library; however, you expressed that this issue was not about the library donation policy.  While you referenced numerous times that you feel religious discrimination has occurred, your conversational focus seemed to be your feeling ignored by the College.  I explained to you that I was out of the office when you originally contacted the College; hence, the unintended delay.  In addition to your communications with the President’s secretary during my absence, I contacted you by email upon my first day of returning to the College (June 3), by email again on June 9, and by phone on June 13 - - all of which demonstrates we are not ignoring you or your concerns.

As I am leaving the College for employment elsewhere, I will not be available for the next several weeks; other College administrators have been apprised of the situation.  My replacement is Fran Leibfreid, who can assist you.  You may reach her at (301) 784-5288.  Our Vice President for Student & Legal Affairs is Renee Conner, and you may reach her at (301) 784-5206.  Obviously, I can make no guarantees regarding the resolution of this situation.  I do however want to reiterate that ACM values its role in the community and appreciates the concerns that you have brought forth. 

Sincerely, 

Heather Perfetti

Heather F. Perfetti, J.D., M.S.

Vice President of Instructional Affairs

Allegany College of Maryland

12401 Willowbrook Road, SE

Cumberland, MD 21502

301.784.5287 - Phone

301.784.5060 - Fax

hperfetti@allegany.edu

www.allegany.edu

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This is my response:

Well, Heather, perhaps the reason you don't seem to think I have reason enough to have a face-to-face meeting is because you are in fact leaving the College for employment elsewhere. I gave you quite a few reasons why I wished for a meeting, and yet you continually told me none were reason enough. I certainly hope your replacement takes the situation more seriously and doesn't talk down to me as you did.

Best of luck in your future employment,

Frank Bittinger

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Response:

Thank you.  But I respectfully disagree with all of your assertions. 

I wish you the best too.  Feel free to contact those with whom I recommended in the email.

Heather Perfetti

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My last response to her:

And please correct your summary of our conversation. You did not offer an apology until I repeatedly said I was dismayed one had yet to be offered. You then began in a tone that I perceived as sarcastic and talking down to me so I asked you to stop.

Frank

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I will not respond to her final dig at me:

Again, I respectfully disagree.  I have accurately captured our conversation.  Please contact those to whom you have been referred. 

Heather Perfetti

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I seriously wish I had recorded this conversation. Just blatant, outright lies. I repeatedly said how I was upset no one had bothered with an apology even after I outright requested one verbally and in writing. THEN she attempted her apology. Outright lying when she claims to have "accurately captured" the conversation.

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I remain totally amazed at the lack of thought, concern, or manners from the people who are supposed to be representing Allegany College of Maryland. Just absolutely rude.