University of Oregon sued over alleged whistleblower retaliation

A former employee who claims she and others were discriminated against and laid off for calling out their colleague’s inappropriate and unlawful conduct has sued University of Oregon for $550,000.

Cherokee Staples, former director of business operations, was terminated from UO in June 2025. She had been working in UO budget and financial services in various capacities since 2011.

Her complaint, filed on March 11, states she was promoted to the director of business operations position in 2023. Shortly after settling into her new role, UO performed a national search for her direct supervisor, selecting Richard Menard, who became the senior director in December 2023. Above both Menard and Staples was Associate Vice President of Administrative Services Jon Marchetta.

Suit alleges concerning behavior

Starting in March 2024, Staples spoke to Marchetta about concerns she had regarding Menard’s “mismanagement, gross waste of funds, and abuse of authority,” according to the suit.

Between March 2024 and October 2024, she and other colleagues raised numerous objections about Menard allegedly violating law and UO policy, including hiring a personal friend as a consultant, instructing Staples to process a $50,000 stipend due to a personal commitment and misinforming staff multiple times about Equal Pay Act regulations.

The complaint also alleges Menard made racist and sexist comments. Staples and three other peers sent a joint memo to Marchetta about comments Menard had made during an Oct. 3, 2024, meeting.

During that meeting, she claims Menard joked that employees, one of whom is a person of color, “would be lynched” if they did not make their deadline.

The complaint also alleges he made multiple inappropriate jokes about pregnancy: expressing disgust, joking about teen pregnancy and expressing disappointment in a staff member who had gone on maternity leave.

Staples claims in response to her concerns, Marchetta “ignored or minimized” them.

Layoffs in department

On March 5, 2025, Marchetta announced a restructuring of the department, which resulted in the layoff of Staples and her three peers who also had made complaints against Menard. Menard also was laid off.

This restructuring notice was given more than two months before UO President Karl Scholz and Provost Christopher Long announced the university’s budget deficit that led to the layoffs of more than 100 employees.

The lawsuit said Staples was eligible for the reemployment pool, but was not offered a new position. She was rejected from the one “equivalent” position she applied for at the university. According to the complaint, a “less qualified candidate” was selected while Staples didn’t make it to the final stage of interviews.

Staples’ employment was terminated in June. Ultimately, all employees who signed onto the October 2024 memo alleging Menard made racist and sexist comments were either terminated or moved into lower paying jobs.

Menard is now director of development for global engagement at UO.

The lawsuit claims whistleblower retaliation, sex discrimination and wrongful discharge. Staples is seeking $40,000 for lost wages and benefits and another $510,000 for emotional distress, indignity and other noneconomic damages. She is demanding a jury trial.

According to UO’s salary report, Staples made $98,850 in fiscal year 2024 and $103,162 in FY2025.

Staples is now employed at Oregon State University where she is a financial strategic partner.

UO responds

UO Director of Issues Management Angela Seydel said via email UO disagrees with the allegations and will address them in court.

“We want to be clear: the university takes all complaints of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation seriously,” Seydel stated. “UO has established policies and processes for reporting and investigating workplace concerns, and we are committed to maintaining an environment where employees can raise concerns without fear of retaliation.”

She said UO is unable to address specific allegations in the complaint because they are subject to court proceedings, but asserted the university investigates concerns raised through its reporting processes in accordance with university policy and applicable law.

Reporting by Miranda Cyr, Eugene Register-Guard