SANTA CRUZ — A civil complaint filed by a former UC Santa Cruz employee this week claims university leadership protected another employee accused of sexual assault.
According to Wednesday’s Santa Cruz County Superior Court filing, Jocelyn Fredell, 27, reported a March 2023 off-campus drunken sexual assault to her direct supervisor and allegedly was “questioned several times on if she was sure she wanted to report it.” Fredell then went on to report the assault directly to the UCSC leadership, according to court filings in case No. 24CV01511.
The assault, according to Fredell’s filing, allegedly came at the hands of then-fellow UCSC employee Joshua Solis, who was serving as a supervisory staff member during a March 2023 work conference for foster youth in Santa Barbara. Solis, who is named along with the Regents of the University of California in the suit, could not immediately be reached for comment. The lawsuit alleges sexual harassment and/or hostile work environment, failure to prevent sexual harassment, sex discrimination, retaliation, sexual assault and sexual battery.
The university hired Fredell in October 2022 as a temporary Services for Transfer and Re-entry Students student affairs specialist and its Renaissance Scholars Program coordinator. Reportedly at the urging of her superior, Fredell later applied to two permanent positions in early 2023. The same week she made her complaint to university officials about Solis, Fredell was scheduled for two job interviews for a permanent position in the UC Regents’ office. Solis was a member of both hiring panels, causing Fredell to request that he be removed — an unsuccessful effort.
“Mr. Solis interviewed Ms. Fredell as part of the hiring committee and Ms. Fredell did not get either of the permanent positions she applied for,” according to a press release issued by the plaintiff’s attorneys. “Her employment was terminated shortly thereafter. Mr. Solis remained employed for nearly a year following Ms. Fredell’s termination.”
University spokesperson Scott Hernandez-Jason said that, as of Friday afternoon, the school had not been served with the lawsuit.
“Sexual misconduct has no place at UC Santa Cruz, and we work to create a community that is inclusive and welcoming to all,” Hernandez-Jason wrote in an emailed statement. “We strive to respond comprehensively and effectively when we learn of allegations, with the goal of protecting everyone in our community.”
Hernandez-Jason urged any victim of sexual violence or sexual harassment in the UCSC community to reach out to its Title IX Office.
A case management conference before Judge Syda Cogliati is scheduled for Sept. 20.