An Ohio community college demanded that a construction crew stop working on campus until it removed a “Men Working” sign that an administrator deemed “sexist.”
Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio, made the call in mid-November after a female employee raised concerns that the construction company’s sign was too biased, WKEF-TV reported.
The construction company, Jcrane Inc., told the local news station that it has used such signs “frequently and have never had a problem before.”
“It is our obligation to the students of Sinclair to provide them with a safe learning environment,” the company said in a statement, adding that safety is its top priority.
“In no way is the signage provided by Jcrane, in particular a ‘men working’ sign, sexist.”
A spokesman for Sinclair said that while the move may have been a step too far, the school is sticking to its policy of fostering a culture of openness.
“While it may not have been necessary to suggest that work be stopped, Sinclair stands by its commitment to providing an environment that is inclusive and non-discriminatory,” Adam Murka, Sinclair’s director of Public Information, told the Daily News in a statement.
Dayton locals fell on both sides of the argument.
Sarah Belden pointed out that the sign was accurate.
“There was no women in the crew working on the building, it was politically correct,” she told WKEF.
Alex Henry, on the other hand, suggested a compromise.
“I’d rather have crew at work or construction going on, something more broad,” he said.
Jcrane has since taken down the sign and the project remains on schedule.
