In a statement Wednesday, former Eastern president Carol Surles expressed her lack of surprise that economics professor Teshome Abebe dismissed his charges of racial discrimination against her.

“There was no basis whatsoever for any of Dr. Abebe’s charges. All of his allegations were troubling, but the most emotionally damaging was the charge of sexual harassment which, justly, was dismissed in summary judgment,” the statement said.

Abebe accused Surles of racial, sexual and national origin discrimination as well as retaliation in November of 2000. Surles then filed counterclaims of emotional distress, interference with contract and prospective business advantage, breach of employee fiduciary duty, defamation, false light and invasion of privacy, court documents state.

Both sides dropped all charges mutually Tuesday, agreeing to do so with prejudice, which means neither side will be allowed to appeal any charges.

Abebe’s claims of sex discrimination, national origin discrimination and retaliation were dismissed in a summary judgment Nov. 4, as were Surles’ counterclaims of intentional infliction of emotional distress, interference with contract and prospective business advantage and breach of employee fiduciary contract.

Abebe came to Eastern in March of 1998 as provost and vice president for academic affairs. He was reassigned as a professor of economics two years later.

In his lawsuit, Abebe was seeking back pay and reimbursement for lost benefits and wanted to be reinstated as provost and vice president for academic affairs, court documents stated.

Surles showed appreciation to Eastern’s Board of Trustees and her attorney, Elaine Massock, in her statement.

“The university is fortunate to have this group of decisive leaders who understand the importance of holding those in their charge to high standards, even in the face of legal threats,” the statement said. “I am pleased that the Board and I did not abdicate our responsibility to get at the truth. Especially in higher education, that is our mission.”

In a statement issued Tuesday, Abebe said he chose to drop the charges because of bad publicity and physical and mental exhaustion.

Surles left Eastern in July of 2001 to seek further treatment for breast cancer.