From a student at CMU who has filed a Title IX complaint against a CMU Tech Professor. It’s going to mediation with the school in Mid-May. (March 30, 2026)

When my son told me he was going back to school to earn his master’s degree, it inspired me to go back to school, too. I researched classes offered at CMU and signed up for a class in culinary arts.

In the US mail, I received a letter dated 1/14/26, from Whitney Bonner, the Director of Admissions congratulating me for being admitted to CMU Tech. Specifically, the Academic Program: Bakeshop Production (Technical Certificate) for the Spring Semester 2026.

On 1/19/26, I went to New Mav Day. I spoke with my admissions counselor, Stephanie Parsons. She told me that “Chef Steve,” the instructor, requires a food handler’s certificate to take his class. I thought this odd, but replied, “Well, I do not currently have a food handler’s certificate, but I used to when I lived in California. I owned my own restaurant.”

Stephanie replied, “If I had known that, I would’ve told him. But I’m sure it will be ok. Just go to the class early tomorrow and talk to Chef Steve.” I was bothered by the fact that I had to explain my food handler’s experience just to attend a class when I already had a letter from the Director of Admissions congratulating me for being admitted.

The first day of class I rode my mountain bike to CMU Tech. I’m on the road in the freezing cold to be there before class starts. I find the classroom, walk in, and say, “Hi, my name is Tammy Powers. Stephanie said I need to be here early so we can discuss my experience in restaurants and how long I’ve had a food handler’s certificate.”

All the while, Steve Gould had been looking at me with a spooked eyes-wide-open stare. He said, “Follow me.” And he escorted me out of the classroom, down the hall to the admissions office, and said to a woman, “This person has some questions for you.” And he quickly exited.

The woman greeted me and asked, “Hi, you have some questions for us?”

To say I was stunned at what just happened would be an understatement. From Steve Gould not being friendly enough to even greet me with a smile, to Steve Gould not having any discussion with me at all, to Steve Gould walking me down the hall to the admissions office and abandoning me without an explanation… I dumbfoundedly responded, “No, I don’t have any questions for you. I was led to believe that I would have a discussion with that guy about if I could be taking his class, instead, he marched me down here.”

The woman responded with something like, “Well, we don’t have much to say about what goes on in his classroom.”

A different employee looked up my student number and confirmed that I was properly enrolled. To which I stated, “So if nobody can tell me why I’m not supposed to be in that class, I’m gonna go back there and attend the class.” No one objected and no one tried to stop me.

I walked back to the classroom. Other students had arrived. I politely waited near the door. When Steve Gould eventually did see me, his eyes popped wide open again, and he immediately dashed towards me. Steve Gould said, “Follow me.” And once again, marched me to the admission’s office, said a few words to a woman on crutches, and sprinted out of there.

Questions were thrown at me from numerous CMU employees. I spoke in a firm tone, “Please stop asking me questions! I’m the one with the questions. You should be providing me with answers, not confusing me with questions.”

The muddle continued. I was getting more upset due to being removed from a public class TWICE for no reason whatsoever. Finally, the woman on the crutches suggested I leave, I agreed, and walked out the door. I rode my bike to the main campus to talk with my admissions counselor. When Stephanie arrived, she immediately blurted out, “You didn’t sign up for the class! We never got your transcripts!”

I was gobsmacked by her absolute ignorance. I said, “No, I have a letter from Bonney Whitner congratulating me! I have my Mav ID! Someone looked up my student number and confirmed I’m in that class! So, what do you mean I never signed up?!”

Stephanie didn’t answer my question. She told me she would contact Steve Gould to find out what is going on. I never heard from her again.

CMU has a direct policy against discrimination. I might be a transgendered woman, I might be big and ugly, but I am allowed to be in a public classroom when I am properly enrolled. Thus, I have filed a civil rights violation complaint against CMU.