Employee charges Carle Clinic with racial discrimination

By Ashley Sheriff

Urbana resident Vilma Hascall has charged Carle Clinic Association with denying her a job because of her color and national origin. Hascall was born in Honduras and her first spoken language is Spanish. She worked as a receptionist for Carle Clinic Association for four years, where most of her work entailed interpreting for Spanish-speaking, low English proficient clients.

Two years ago, she requested to be made a full-time medical interpreter. After requesting the position, Hascall was told to keep a six-month log detailing her interpretive services. When she was informed her request would be fulfilled, she applied.

Hascall followed directions to prepare for the position, but it was given to Sarah Cranston, a white employee in the financial services department.

Prior to hiring Cranston, on Aug. 30, 2006, Jim McNutt, Carle Clinic Communications Manager, notified staff members that the Medical Interpreter position description was posted on the personnel site.

“He said they were creating the position for me to be full time,” Hascall said. “He gave me the job description before it was even posted.”

Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!

  • Catch the latest on University of Illinois news, sports, and more. Delivered every weekday.
  • Stay up to date on all things Illini sports. Delivered every Monday.
Thank you for subscribing!

According to the Charge of Discrimination to the City of Urbana Human Relations Division, McNutt gave Hascall the position description to review and comment on.

On Sept. 27, 2006, McNutt informed Hascall that the job was given to Cranston. Hascall then asked why he gave the job to Cranston. According to the Charge of Discrimination, McNutt allegedly replied, “You know Carle is a lot about PR (public relations) and looks.”

“He said I needed to continue with my education … and that she could do better at the meetings,” Hascall said.

Hascall also said these were the only reasons McNutt provided for not hiring her. McNutt was unable to comment about the allegations at this time.

Hascall’s lawyer, John H. Otto, said she met all of the qualifications on the position description. The education requirement was a high school diploma with some college experience preferred. Hascall successfully graduated from high school and, although she did not obtain a degree, went to college for two years.

A Medical Interpreter Certification was also required. When Hascall took the test in 2006 to become a certified medical interpreter, she was the only Carle Clinic employee that passed. Hascall received a certificate for completing the bilingual certification program. Other skills required were interpersonal skills, good human relations and the ability to work independently.

“(McNutt) told me that I was the best person for the job … He said I was the most experienced and the best interpreter that Carle has,” Hascall said.

Hascall will meet with her attorney Tuesday to discuss further actions. Carle Clinic has until March 2 to respond to the Urbana Human Relations Division. Carle must provide both Hascall and Cranston’s employee information, the interpreter job description and recruitment and hiring policies.

“She just wants to make sure that it doesn’t happen again,” said James Hascall, Vilma’s husband.

John Rent, human relations officer for the City of Urbana, will oversee the case in the future. Vacellia Clark, the current relations officer in charge of the case, was unable to disclose any information.

Carle has offered to settle the case by giving Hascall a backpay of $2,368 and a 10 cent raise with the creation of a new job assisting Cranston. Hascall rejected the offer. She still works as a receptionist for Carle Clinic, but has declined to continue working as an interpreter. Hascall isn’t demanding money as retribution.

“It’s not about the money,” Vilma Hascall said.