Dr. Margret Brown recently applied for the position of assistant professor of Social Work at a prestigious public university located in the Southeast. Dr. Brown is a well-known scholar and researcher. One of her areas of research is how to help children of immigrants succeed academically in public schools. Dr. Brown is passionate about this issue as she was born in a Middle Eastern country and immigrated to the United States as a young child.

Dr. Brown interviewed for the job but was not offered the position. She is somewhat upset because she believes her qualifications are better than the individual who was offered the position.

Through some professional contacts, Dr. Brown hears that the search committee had ranked her first of all the applicants, but that it was the department chair who did not want to hire her. It was relayed to her that the chair felt she would not be a good fit for the university and community because she is Muslim. While the professors are very tolerant of differing religious views, the community in which the university is located is more rural and conservative.

Dr. Brown is considering legal action. What claims, if any, might she bring against the university? What defenses might the university claim?