Reference no: EM133416668
Two first-year art students exhibited in the year-end show at the CalArts' main gallery a pencil drawing 20 by 40 inches titled "The Last Art Piece," depicting 82-year-old Mary Herberg - a cashier in the CalArts accounting office - and several CalArts faculty, staff, and students engaged in various sex acts. Herberg was depicted sitting on a nude male faculty member engaged in sexual intercourse.
Herberg's daughter, Bobette Heuer, and granddaughter, Deborah Dutro, also worked at CalArts, and both became very upset when they viewed the display. Hueur objected to the drawing with CalArts's vice president of administration and requested removal. Herberg was told about The Last Art Piece but did not see it. Herberg suffered an asthma attack that afternoon, developed problems with eating and sleeping, and never returned to work.
The Last Art Piece remained on display for about 24 hours before it was removed by one of its creators, who apologized to Herberg. Herberg, Heuer, and Dutro sued CalArts for employment discrimination, claiming The Last Art Piece display created a hostile work environment.
Did this constitute sexual harassment? If so, what type? Quid pro quo or hostile work environment?