By: Ravyn Rhodes, Managing Editor and Sera Crookes, Guest Writer
Todd Hagins, former general counsel of Winthrop University, announced Monday in a press release issued by Hagins’ law firm that he has issued a federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaint against Winthrop University. Hagins joined Winthrop University’s Office of the President as the university’s general counsel on Feb. 16, 2023. Before his time at Winthrop, Hagins served as the director of compliance with the University of South Carolina, an adjunct professor at the USC School of Law, director of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division’s general counsel and federal prosecutor.
“This is not about whether something like DEI should exist in 2025, but whether Winthrop protects blatant racism, and why,” Haggins wrote.
The press release comes nearly seven months after Hagins’ termination on Sept. 4, 2024. The release alleged that Hagins’ termination was “in retaliation for opposing discriminatory and retaliatory actions by university leadership as well as his notifications to University leadership of a number of illegal activities occurring at the school.” Hagins’ complaint seeks to join an ongoing EEOC investigation initiated by Amy Bailey, who serves as the executive assistant to the vice president.
3Bailey’s complaint, which was issued on Nov. 7, 2024, according to FITSNEWS, accused her supervisor Tammie Phillips, executive director of the Office of the President, of engaging in discriminatory conduct and having “used racial slurs in front of [Bailey]” on multiple occasions. Bailey alleged that she faced “significant retaliation” and a “hostile work environment” as a result of her complaint against Phillips, which is federally protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The Hagins Clark Law Firm release claimed that Hagins was terminated after protesting an alleged plan to retaliate against Bailey, which he stated was led by Phillips, Vice President of Human Resources Lisa Cowart, and President Edward Serna.
Hagins notified Winthrop University’s Board of Trustees of his complaint after attempting to resolve the situation informally, his attorney and firm partner Jennie Elizabeth Clark told the Roddey-McMillan Record (RMR). Clark said that Hagins “felt he had a duty under his conscience” to report the alleged misconduct, regardless of the potential consequences.
The RMR has issued a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for communications relating to the notification of Hagins’ and Bailey’s complaints, the contents of said notifications, related affidavits and copies of the complaints themselves. Individuals wishing to view a copy of the notification and affidavit related to Hagins’ case may also submit a FOIA request to Winthrop University at https://www.winthrop.edu/foia/foia-request-form.aspx.
“I’ve filed a complaint with the EEOC, joining an investigation into allegations of discriminatory conduct at Winthrop. I will be adding to the complaint a number of other discrimination acts not mentioned in the original EEOC complaint involving other groups protected by federal law as well as other violations to state authorities. This fight matters, and I’m ready for what’s ahead,” Hagins wrote in a post on Facebook.
“We wanted the truth to come to light because [the student body] deserves that, everyone deserves that,” Clark said, adding that this case is “an issue of right and wrong.” Clark affirmed her and Hagins’ belief that Winthrop University is a state institution meant to promote higher education in a “safe atmosphere that promotes the diversity of our state and this country,” a goal that cannot be met if staffand administration are not held accountable for instances of discrimination or misconduct.
At the time of writing, Winthrop University officials have not commented on the complaint, but an emergency meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for 6 pm on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 – presumably to discuss the complaint in executive session.
This is a developing story. Check back later for updates as they become available.