THE HARTFORD NEWS: Dukes in Exile
08/28/25When Christopher Dukes’ nearly 7-year nightmare came to an end in June 2024, Hartford’s Supreme Court had ordered CCSU from which he’d been unjustly fired to restore all his pay going back to December 2018, his job and seniority, his benefits, his accrued vacation time, sick time, and expunged all references to his firing from his record.
All of that is well and good except for one item: He was not restored to his campus office. Instead, he has been relegated to an old and somewhat decrepit power plant and utility building far from the heart of CCSU, and away from his department’s two colleagues who have an office in a campus residence hall.
In fact, President Toro struck him another blow when she named one of his two assistants a co-director and then also downgraded Dukes to co-director.
The department’s duties are to administer the procedures for responding to critical incidents or issues which threaten the campus living and learning environment, and to preserve student rights and oversee the student disciplinary process.
That is what Chris Dukes had been doing for more than 20 years and doing it well.
Having written about Dukes several times over the past few years, I did a Q & A interview with him this week about his return to the CCSU campus.
AG: Along with President Toro, are there any others in high positions who have been unwelcoming to you or ignoring you?
CD: Despite President Zulma Toro’s voiced opposition to the media regarding my reinstatement and return to CCSU, the members of her cabinet whom I’ve encountered so far have been cordial. Toro, on the other hand, saw me last week and completely ignored me.
AG: As for those at CCSU happy for your legal victory and your return to campus, can you note their connection, job, students, faculty, facilities workers, security, clerical, etc.?
CD: Most of the veteran staff and faculty from various departments and ranks I’ve encountered thus far have expressed a spirit of joy and congratulatory sentiments. They say they appreciate me for having fought so long and so hard against the power structure within CCSU and other state agencies. Unfortunately, I can’t acknowledge them here given the imminent threat of retribution they would face in this hostile, abusive, and intimidating environment. My excommunication was boastfully and repeatedly communicated via campus email, yet no campus-wide messaging acknowledging her mistake or my return have been made. Many are unaware of my return. I am committed to making sure no other member of the workforce is subjected to the unthinkable persecution my family experienced in the past seven years. My employer has a legal responsibility for protecting all employees from harassment; CCSU and the CSCU have failed miserably. Lawmakers and other government officials must use this case as a template to prevent future incidents. The days of remaining silent amid regular violations of public trust are over. The Court has spoken; justice must be served.
AG: As for your new “office” (which you referred to as “the Alcatraz of CCSU”), tell me if you intend to advocate or sue for better quarters closer to or in one of the main buildings.
CD: Yes, I will take whatever actions are necessary to correct this latest dose of harassment and retaliation by Toro. This office location screams aloud “solitary confinement”. There are no adjacent offices or employees; my staff is approximately a quarter mile across campus. No other student affairs director since 1849 has ever been given such a ridiculous office assignment. The office is completely off the grid, no room number or signage. CCSU management refused to provide advance notice of this office assignment. Reportedly, the union was told the location was “top secret.” As of today, the only public facing information about me at CCSU is my email address. Remarkably, the rapist I reported to Toro in 2018 has a better office, let that set in for a minute. The lawsuit concerning this previous matter remains alive despite the Attorney General’s desperate attempts to deny justice, limit transparency, and avoid accountability.
AG: Do you expect any protests by yourself or others as to the treatment you’ve received upon your return?
CD: I have asked concerned activists to please hold off on any protests, for now. I co-founded American Justice Project in response to the power structure’s use and proliferation of The Chokehold (see https://www.americanjusticeproject.org/chokehold). CCSU Management contributed to eight of the fifteen Chokehold elements used against me since the in-person whistleblower disclosure to Toro on April 20, 2018; members of her executive cabinet had a practice of concealing employee sex offenses from the public by putting them through the student disciplinary process. The devil’s in the details! The history of psychological warfare inflicted upon CCSU employees spans across decades and multiple administrations, especially against minority employees. Opposing injustice can result in career-ending consequences. My unlawful termination stands as one of the most egregious examples of workplace retaliation in Connecticut history. Sadly, it took a ruling from the State of Connecticut Supreme Court to end the retaliation when so many other officials could have put a stop to this matter years ago. From 1990 until my whistleblower disclosure in 2018, my name and reputation amongst the CCSU family and beyond was synonymous with excellence in music, athletics, and student services. My empathic approach to student conduct consistently yielded high satisfaction ratings from the student body throughout my tenure.
Since 2018, the Hartford Police, State Attorney’s Office, DCF, CCSU, CSCU, media enablers, and too many other agencies and actors to list here have controlled the narrative, utilizing false allegations to mislead the public while covering up the swatting incident my children and I suffered. Their collective actions, or inactions, contributed to unimaginable, life-long trauma and financial abuse – all to avoid admitting my accuser lied and officials were 100% wrong from the start. Well, the evidence speaks for itself. William Tong and Ned Lamont cannot undo the harm already done, but the responsibility to intervene or resign remains with both officials. No one at the State Capitol or Hartford City Hall has lifted a finger to promote transparency, achieve accountability, or prevent future incidents. It’s about time our leaders finally lead our way out of this mess using something that has been extremely lacking, integrity.
The fact that Zulma Toro is still employed by the State after unlawfully terminating me and repeatedly renewing the contract of a man she knows sexually violated an incapacitated female student speaks volumes. The time for our CCSU family to unite and clean house is now. Who’s up for the challenge? Make them hear you!!!!
This is where they assign your office after you defeat them at The Supreme Court and expose covered up sex offenses against students. This is the old Powerhouse (mechanical, boiler room, isolation chamber, etc.). Meanwhile, my staff is across campus in a better office suited for the student-facing services we provide. Even the rapist has a better office.