May 14th, 2009
Emelise Aleandri
Sometimes people think that the only people targeted for bullying are weak. In adulthood, that is rarely true. Most of the time, targets are superior performers, stars. Here is one case illustrating the situation where the insecure (and very short napoleonic) bully targeted the more talented and gifted (but subordinate) woman.
Dr. Emelise Aleandri was one of two victorious plaintiffs in a lawsuit against City University of New York. Her bully, Joseph Scelsa, degraded this professional woman, stole her creative works and subjected her to humiliation at an institution of higher education in such a way that Dr. Gary Namie, expert witness in the case, described his outrageous conduct as the worst he had read about nationally. Scelsa treated Aleandri as a worthless person. Obviously, there is a different, objective realistic way to characterize the accomplished woman.
Read about Dr. Aleandri’s lawsuit against the City University of New York (CUNY) that settled for $1.4 million.
Emelise Aleandri, Ph.D.
2005 Woman of Distinction Award
Queens, New YorkDr. Emelise Aleandri has been selected as a Queens Woman of Distinction for 2005. The New York State Senate’s “Woman of Distinction” program was created in 1998 as part of the State’s celebration of Women’s History Month. Past honorees included 19th Century suffragists and women accomplished in sciences, academics, business and the arts. In addition to historic figures, the Women of Distinction program also honors exemplary present day women throughout New York State whose singular professional or personal achievements, whose commitment to excellence, accomplishments and dedicated service on behalf of their communities merit them special recognition by the State Senate.
Dr. Emelise Aleandri is the Artistic Director of Frizzi & Lazzi The Olde Time Italian-American Music & Theatre Company which recreates 19th century immigrant entertainments. She has a Ph.D in Theatre and is President of the Metro NY Chapter of the American Italian Historical Association. Arcadia published her photographic histories, The Italian-American Immigrant Theatre of New York City and Little Italy, about which she regularly lectures for many community organizations. She also lectures through the New York Council for the Humanities. She is currently at work on a multi-volume history of the Italian immigrant theatre for Edwin Mellen Press. She was the 2001 recipient of the Elena Lucrezia Cornaro award from the Order Sons of Italy in America, the 2002 recipient of the Leone di San Marco Award from the Italian Heritage & Culture Committee, and the ETTA Theatre Awardee in 2000.
Dr. Aleandri has produced three documentaries: Teatro, Festa and Circo Rois. For ten years she was the Producer/Host of Italics: The Italian-American Magazine, a nationally-aired cable TV show and is now an independent producer at the Manhattan Neighborhood network. A singer, folk dancer, TV and film actress, Emelise created the role of the 19th century Italian actress, Eleonora Duse, opposite Lilianne Montevecchi’s Sarah Bernhardt in Penguins and Peacocks. She was also featured in Spike Lee’s films Crooklyn and Summer of Sam, the Walnut Street Theatre production of Italian Funerals and Other Festive Occasions, Festa Primavera at La Mama ETC and the Off-Broadway production of Lou La Russo’s Sweatshop. Next, she will sing and play the tricchabalaccha and sing in the chorus of prostitutes in a recording of Jane House Productions’ musical Via Toledo by Night. On May 28 Emelise and Arnie “Mig” Migliaccio presented a program on Farfariello for Bella Italia Mia at the Paolucci Conference Center, 68-02 Metropolitan Avenue in Middle Village, Queens.
This entry was posted on Thursday, May 14th, 2009 at 7:02 am and is filed under Bullying Tutorials, Court Rulings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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I am a target of workplace bulling. For the past 2 1/2 years I get bulled every day 40 hours. I love what I do. I’m very knowledgeable to my feild, that’s why I’m bullied. This comes from magnement, and introduced to peers . They are wrong, and I need help. Everyone is aware of what is going on, but is afarid due to them not wanting to be the next prey. I work in a professional setting. I’m well known for good work, but mostly degraded, putdown, maltipulaed, or not informed always. Its hurting my work& personal life. I’m a single mother, and its a shame what they are doing. Please Help.
I have been subjected to the same for the approximately 1.5 years in my current position. Since I don’t “love” what I do too terribly much (it is ok, but just “ok”), my solution (after many go-rounds with the bully, her bosses, HR, etc.), is to find work elsewhere. Hopefully you might be able to find work in your field in a better environment. I know it is tough, and I have had to put up with this on top of a divorce and a salary much lower than most places I have worked. But I can’t give up hope, and there is hope for us both. I will study issue as much as possible, cover my patootie to the nth degree, try to catch and document ANYTHING that might be grounds for legal action, which I know is difficult, especially with a clever bully. Clever, that is, at bullying, dumb as a stump as far as work and life are concerned. So hang in there, and if you haven’t already (I think is mentioned somewhere on this site), take a look at kickbully.com for some fight back tactics. That’s what I’m going through now. Although it’s been going on for a while, I’m just now starting to empower myself to deal with it – therapist and all! Best of luck to you – we DESERVE better! M
Margaret, How right you are. When people finally allow that they DESERVE to be treated humanely, they take matters in their own hands and force the change. Behind all abuse is another person demanding the right to label someone else as undeserving respect, love, admiration, peace. GN
I had the distinct honor and pleasure of meeting Dr Aleandri. She is a marvelous lady and worthy of her credentials. Good for her that she was able to be victorious in her lawsuit. Yes and I agree, no on has the right to bully anyone in the workplace or anywhere. It should not be accepted and covered up. All men and women are created equal. Thank you.
I recently was on a FMLA due to a medical condition. I’ve had to move out of my residence and i lost all my belongings due to an infestation. I’ve been at my job for 15 yrs.. when I went into health dept to fill out paperwork I was sick so I had comfy clothing on. The staff member in the dept went through pAperwork with me .. she kept coming in and out.. after some time HR comes in with security outside the door accusing me of being impaired.. I was not impaired!! but we all know big brother never puts employees first. I have never received a performance or anyother kind of write up.. after HR left and I still was employed.. I found out that the mngr of the dept who I dnt know .. who never witnessed me there not my medical condition was the person who stereotype me cause of my outfit n medical condition. At no time did she come in the room or anyone ask me prior to HR if I was under influence.. HR came in saying it was protocal for this type of paperwrk then the 2 women looked at eachother and 1 said “the real reason we r here is cause of the mngr complaint. I told them to test me.. they didn’t want to.. My next mtg with them was when they offered me an LOA because the health dept mngr again stated that “my medical condition I couldn’t wrk like that”.. so I went on LOA .. @ this mtg they drug tested me.. I was negative.. After my LOA I met with them again 3 against 1 .. they started out with another write up?? from 2 months prior tht they decided . “we decided after talking we should write u up..” because I was at wrk .. and 6 hrs into my shift ( I had been off n come back because of my medical condition)
my illness had alot of symptoms.. I was itching.. uncomfortable n worried abt it being something that is contagious .. so I pulled a staff member who is usually in charge aside and talked to her abt it.. she told me I should go home.. I did.. but I was worried that supervisor would retaliate if I went home. My write up was for going home early..being tearful.. itchy .. worried abt being contagious.. they falsly wrote on it that I req an LOA.. I did not. I got written up for going home early and for coming into work..,? although my supervisor had left threatning msgs on my phone regarding my medical condition.. I also was then questioned about using my dept fax machine for disability pAperwork which employee health mngr stated to my boss ” I dnt knw wht ur policy is on employees using fax machines on LOA” my boss paused N stated ” most of my staff doesn’t hv a hm fax machine so I’m ok with it.. ” again employee health mngr was looking forany strings to give me another write up.. encouraging drama and BS just to gt me in trouble for something majority of my co wrks do.., so after that the employee health dept mngr brought up my drug screen which had meds I had scripts for on it ( occ health DR stated tht my test showed no signs of abuse therefore it was considered negative) she stated to HR staff after looking at my prescrip meds ” maybe we were right maybe she was impaired that day..” – infront of me like I wasn’t in the room.. ( this is same woman who accused me of being impaired although she was not and did not see me.. meet me or know me.. she determined this frm her staff member n from her office. I take the med for a medical condition I’ve had all my life n wS treated for my entire childhood. She preceded to pull my employee file frm 15 yrs ago my last physical and state that no where did u ment this med condition on this app 15 yrs ago..” WHY didn’t u!” I was just blwn away !! the cond did not affect the job was applying for at the time and it was 15 yrs ago ..ppl hv life events cause med prob .. and past med prblms flare up.. I’m 15 yrs older.I hv doc xrays re: my med con bt “no we don’t wana see it!” they want to call u a liar always..so now I’m on a Admin LOA for not puttn med cond on my med screen 15 yrs ago. all I cld do was laugh. Its ridiculous !! I hvnt gtn my fate yet .. bt 15 yrs no write ups ..n now this..
This is a large medical facility. If anyone has any suggestions.. feedback plz post it.. I’m beyond fustrated and feel like I have no voice.. and that this stranger who is supposed to be part of the EAP tree.. was out to just find any reason to fire me..