Across the two years she has worked at the American University library, Sydney Henry has compiled a notebook of her experiences. The pages chronicle, she says, a years-long pattern of intimidation and belittlement by supervisors.
Henry said she was left out of meetings and was told she was lucky her employers gave her a chance despite her youth. Henry, 23, is the library’s communication and event coordinator.
When she was assigned work beyond her pay grade and started seeking a raise, Henry met with University Librarian Jeehyun Davis, a member of the Dean’s Council and Henry’s top supervisor. Davis told her she likely wouldn’t do anything going through the Staff Union or human resources, Henry said.
When she was assigned work beyond her pay grade and started seeking a raise, Henry met with University Librarian Jeehyun Davis, a member of the Dean’s Council and Henry’s top supervisor. Davis told her she likely wouldn’t do anything going through the Staff Union or human resources, Henry said.
Henry, a unionised employee, had already filed a pay grievance through AU’s Staff Union in February 2025. When her supervisors learned of this, the bullying increased, Henry said.
Henry is not the only library employee to say she’s faced mistreatment specifically from Davis, nor is she the only one to report it with no actionable results. Davis declined to sit for an interview but said in an emailed statement she “cannot comment on individual personnel matters” and that she takes “any concerns about workplace culture seriously and supports the university’s established processes for reviewing and addressing them.”
Henry is not the only library employee to say she’s faced mistreatment specifically from Davis, nor is she the only one to report it with no actionable results. Davis declined to sit for an interview but said in an emailed statement she “cannot comment on individual personnel matters” and that she takes “any concerns about workplace culture seriously and supports the university’s established processes for reviewing and addressing them.”
According to Henry, others have reported Davis to the University over the last two years. One of those staff members is Bella Goris, now an adjunct professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, who formerly worked in the Office of Inclusive Excellence and for budget and personnel in the library.
Goris said their experience working in the library was similar to Henry’s. They too said they were asked to do work beyond their job description and paygrade and were belittled and excluded once they started asking for a raise.
In spring 2025, Goris said she filed a Title IX complaint against Davis for discrimination, but never heard back from the Office of Equity and Title IX. The Eagle has not seen documentation of the complaint because it was made verbally and in person at the office...
According to Elison, the system to report workplace bullying at AU isn’t responsive enough to address the scope of the issue. He said he’s seen staff become so disillusioned with the reporting process that they don't follow through.
“It’s not even worth the trauma of going and reporting it,” he said. “Sometimes you just need to leave.”
Henry, who first filed a grievance with the union in February 2025, said she saw an increase in mistreatment and described the reporting process as exhausting.
When it comes to reporting workplace mistreatment, staff at AU generally have two options: going through AU human resources directly, or union-eligible employees can file a grievance through AU’s Staff Union, part of Service Employees International Union Local 500.
Employees can also file a Title IX complaint through the Equity and Title IX Office when they feel like they’re being discriminated against based on their sex or gender identity. Goris said she filed a Title IX complaint regarding her experiences in the library but never heard back from the office...
