AJP President Christopher L. Dukes Issues Whistleblower Notice to CSCU Leadership

10/09/25

On September 8, 2025, American Justice Project President and Cofounder Christopher L. Dukes delivered a formal whistleblower notice to Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU) Interim Chancellor Dr. O. John Maduko. In the letter, Dukes describes continued retaliation and workplace harassment after the Connecticut Supreme Court affirmed that his termination was wrongful and ordered his reinstatement with back pay (June 4, 2024).

The notice also raises serious concerns about how Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) and the system have handled reports of sexual misconduct, including allegations that a male employee who admitted to raping a student remained employed, received renewed contracts, and advanced toward tenure. Dukes urges CSCU leadership to set a clear, system-wide tone: there can be no “safe havens” for abusers or those who enable them.

We are publishing the full letter below in the interest of transparency and accountability. The facts and allegations are those of Mr. Dukes, submitted to CSCU leadership to prompt immediate review and corrective action.

 

To: Dr. O. John Maduko, Interim Chancellor, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities From: Christopher L. Dukes, Director, Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (Central Connecticut State University) 

Date: September 8, 2025 

RE: Whistleblower retaliation, workplace harassment, and unethical practices related to sex offenses at Central Connecticut State University. 

Dear Chancellor Maduko, 

I, Christopher L. Dukes, am setting aside my fears that the Connecticut State Colleges and  Universities (CSCU) system will ignore, again, my whistleblower disclosures and permit  President Zulma Toro of Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) to further retaliatory consequences because of my previous and new disclosures of workplace harassment,  discrimination, and retaliation. 

Disclosure: 

  • Ongoing workplace harassment and additional whistleblower retaliation towards me (Christopher L. Dukes) since the State of Connecticut Supreme Court ordered my reinstatement with full back pay in June 2024. 

  • Continued unethical practices and discrimination by CSCU and CCSU; both entities are knowingly maintaining the employment of a male rapist while many others have been either terminated or nonrenewed. 

Severe and pervasive workplace harassment within the CSCU became unlawful the  moment President Zulma Toro terminated me without cause after I overwhelmingly  demonstrated allegations from an 4/24/2018 incident were entirely false. She compounded  the matter by taking no tangible or adverse effect (e.g., campus-wide notifications,  suspension, termination, etc.) upon a male employee who voluntarily admitted raping a female student. Instead, Toro repeatedly renewed his contract and ultimately approved his appointment to tenure status – all while she publicly and vigorously opposed my rightful reinstatement all the way up to the State Supreme Court. The rapist remains employed at CCSU today. 

Retaliation Post-Supreme Court Ruling 

  • Toro used one of her well-known social retaliation trademarks, public shaming, to maintain an intimidating, hostile, and abusive work environment for me at CCSU.  Despite the Supreme Court ruling, she informed the public, including the CCSU workforce, that she opposes my reinstatement. Therefore, it was not safe for my  immediate return. 
  • Management developed a strategic initiative aimed to keep me away from campus by offering a 1-year sabbatical with full pay, ending July 25, 2025. Keeping me physically away from CCSU reinforced her narrative that she is keeping the campus safe. 

  • I requested office space, division and unit goals, assessments and learning outcomes,  division organizational chart, and any other materials that would aid the selection  process for the variety of training sessions I anticipated completing while on sabbatical. 

  • None of the above items were provided. I acquired an employee ID card and University email account on my own. 

Retaliation in the Maduko Era 

On July 29, 2025, I returned to CCSU to attend a meeting with my immediate supervisor  who, under Toro’s “marching orders”, provided re-entry orientation for me as the Director,  Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSRR). The orders reduced the scope of my authority from serving all CCSU undergraduate and graduate students, and the community at large, to managing cases for commuter students only, something that is unorthodox within modern-day student conduct administration. My supervisory responsibilities as the director were stripped and memorialized in the Division of Student Affairs Organizational Chart. I no longer have a clerical position and Assistant Director report to me. 

The orientation also involved leading me to my newly assigned office in the Power House Building 2. The other OSRR team members remain housed on the other side of campus.  This new office was described to me as a “neat space” with a “private bathroom.” After the accrual of approximately 35 years of experience at CCSU, I was familiar with the building mentioned and assumed the University must have completed some significant renovations during my unlawful separation. I was completely wrong and then mortified. The sure solitary confinement element of this location triggered a post-traumatic episode that warranted me to leave campus immediately to seek healthcare.  

It took several days to recover. I returned to work on August 6, 2025, with a medical  certificate from a healthcare provider who has rendered continuous treatment since 2018.  The medical certificate indicates the chronic conditions developed after the  commencement of Toro’s whistleblower retaliation and the recommendations Management should adhere to prevent subsequent episodes that would very likely impact  my capacity to perform the routine duties associated with my position.

Many colleagues, across racial and gender lines, across work experience ranging from  entry-level to senior managers, have expressed their disgust in Toro’s latest retaliation  towards me. The consensus amongst these individuals is that this office assignment was  made to humiliate me while intimidating anyone else who would dare attempt to report unethical or illegal behavior at CCSU. Most say, and I concur, that this new round of  workplace harassment is seemingly motivated by Toro’s anger that I exposed CCSU corruption, prevailed in arbitration, was victorious at the CT Supreme Court, and that my pending whistleblower retaliation lawsuit will undoubtedly expose more of her misdeeds. 

Title VII makes it illegal for Toro to retaliate against me under these circumstances, and the CSCU system is liable for tolerating her actions with impunity.  

I recently completed a Workplace Harassment training required of CCSU employees. The training informs us that, “Whistleblowers are protected from retaliation and therefore should feel safe in bringing concerns to their organization without fear of negative treatment from their employer and colleagues.” The training defines Hostile Work Environment as, “A workplace, where conduct based on protected classes unreasonably interferes with an employee's work performance or creates an intimidating or offensive  environment” The effect of such harassment includes, “Creates an environment of  intimidation and repression that affects all workers, productivity, and bottom line.” “Employers are automatically liable for harassment by a supervisor that results in a tangible employment action.” 

Dr. Maduko, you accepted the role of Interim Chancellor therefore you have the duty and legal responsibility to protect me and other employees from harassment. You must set the  tone throughout the CSCU that there are no safe havens within the system for those who perpetrate workplace harassment – all reports will be taken seriously under your term. 

According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), “Accountability  requires that discipline for harassment be proportionate to the offensiveness of the  conduct.” Zulma Toro is responsible for the wrongful and unlawful termination imposed  upon me on December 26, 2018, as confirmed by the arbitration ruling dated November 30, 2020, and later affirmed by the State of Connecticut Supreme Court on June 4, 2024. Yet, to date, she has faced no discipline for her egregious, harmful, and reckless misconduct. 

Closing: 

I acted in good faith at CCSU. In return, I suffered an administrative lynching at the hands of Zulma Toro. She intentionally attempted to assassinate my image and reputation, causing  others to fear me, and then terminating me without cause to destroy my life and career while preserving her own and providing a veil of protection over actual offenders.

Toro made a conscientious decision to perpetuate the false accusations of a White female  to destroy an innocent Black man who blew the whistle on two White male employees Toro knew committed actual sex offenses against female students. 

Toro has failed to responsibly lead in this situation and has demonstrated absolutely no  remorse for her unethical and illegal acts of discrimination and retaliation. 

The late, great William J. Cibes, Jr., once featured me as a student tenor soloist at his  inauguration, meanwhile Toro has since worked to erase all the historic and fond memories held about me within the system over the past 35 years. 

Regardless of the source, the hymn lyrics, “Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come, 'tis grace has brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home” ring true for me. May you too be supported and encouraged by some mode of inspiration  that will embolden you to respond swiftly and courageously towards an appropriate  remedy. 

Your predecessors, from Mark Ojakian to Terrence Cheng, protected Toro and failed to  correct her deliberate misdeeds. Therefore, the CSCU has assumed the liability for having failed to perform its required duty to protect me and prevent further workplace  harassment. 

You have my commitment to earnestly and steadfastly pursue justice in this matter until  justice is finally served. Others and I will persistently sound the alarm on CSCU dealings  until the entire workforce is liberated and restored from decades of oppression and  corruption.  

Given the complete disregard and cowardice spirit with which your predecessors and the BOR have operated, despite previous notices and disclosures (see the accompanying materials), this document is also being shared with members of our local media. I trust these individuals will be professional and do what is right to inform the public about the  ongoing harassment, the implications for higher education in our state, and the potential and realized consequences upon the workforce and the communities we serve through the system. 

Dr. Maduko, our children, our legacy, is watching and listening. Make them hear you! 

 

Sincerely, 

Christopher L. Dukes 

Director, Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (CCSU)

 

 

What We’re Asking of CSCU:

  • Issue a public commitment to protect whistleblowers and to end retaliation immediately.
  • Conduct an independent, trauma-informed review of how sexual misconduct cases have been handled across the system.
  • Enforce clear consequences for leaders who violate policy, court orders, or ethical obligations.

How You Can Help:

  • Share this letter with your networks to increase visibility.
  • Contact CSCU leadership and your elected representatives to demand a transparent, independent review.
  • Support survivors and whistleblowers—believe them, protect them, and push for policy that prevents repeat harm.
  • Partner with AJP to advance reforms in campus due process, Title IX compliance, and anti-retaliation protections.

Media & Inquiries:
For interviews or additional documentation, contact American Justice Project at [email protected].