Two former University employees have filed age discrimination claims against Brandeis, claiming their firings were unwarranted and handled poorly by administrators.Fifty-nine-year-old Cliff Hauptman '69, M.F.A. '73, who worked here in multiple capacities for 14 years in the Office of Admissions and the Office of Communications, said his firing last November was discriminatory and based on his age.

And Mary Sullivan, 54, who was fired abruptly this summer after 32 years as the University's varsity softball coach, alleges her firing was based on her age.

They have both filed complaints with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.

Administrators, including University President Jehuda Reinharz and Hauptman's former boss Senior Vice President for Communications Lorna Miles, declined to comment on the firings or the discrimination claims, saying that personnel matters are confidential.

Sullivan, Hauptman and their supporters say the firings are indicative of a trend toward what they called "corporatization of the University," referring to an increased focus on money and callous staff management.

"I was the oldest one there [in the Office of Communications] besides her and I think she just needed to take charge," Hauptman said. "[Miles] wanted somebody younger who was not a clear competing authority."

An MCAD investigator decided in June that his claim was valid and worthy of further investigation, one that could take up to 18 months.

Hauptman was 58 when Lorna Miles, who came to the University to become the senior vice president of communications in 2003, fired him.

"Ms. Miles's hiring of an individual substantially younger than I am to perform the same duties and responsibilities gave rise to an inference of age discrimination," Hauptman wrote in an affidavit last March filed with the MCAD.

Sullivan's MCAD claim is still pending.

"I believe I was fired because the Athletics Department is looking for younger coaches," Sullivan said. "I don't believe it was a just firing. I was not treated with any dignity or respect whatsoever."

Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Jean Eddy, who oversees the Athletics Department, was away from campus and unavailable for comment. Director of Athletics Sherly Sousa has declined to comment for previous articles about Sullivan.

Robert Weintraub '55, who formed a committee in support of Hauptman, said he was so disgusted by the firing that he sent letters to 125 alumni asking that they write Reinharz and other administrators to express their dissatisfaction.

"[Hauptman] devoted his career to Brandeis and they just took that away from him, and they don't care," Weintraub said. "They don't give a damn about it. It's just beyond belief to us what is happening."

A senior faculty member echoed those concerns as well as worries about a larger shift in firing practices, saying that Hauptman and others have been fired "brutally." The professor was granted anonymity for fear of administrative retaliation.

Weintraub said he still loves Brandeis and hasn't withdrawn any financial support, but added that the committee may consider such action.

Micah Naftalin '55 was one of about 15 alumni who wrote to Reinharz criticizing the firing, according to Weintraub.

In a letter responding to Naftalin, Reinharz called Weintraub's story "seriously distorted."

"I would hope you know Brandeis well enough to know that the University always considers carefully an individual's personal circumstances, years of service, contributions and accomplishments when making any personnel decision," Reinharz wrote.

Hauptman said he called and e-mailed Reinharz multiple times hoping to meet with him, but was referred by Reinharz's assistant, John Hose, to the General Counsel's office. Hauptman said the office wouldn't speak with him.

Sullivan reported similar problems in trying to meet with Reinharz.

Hauptman said that Miles cited "poor performance" when firing him. But he insisted she felt threatened by his seniority.

Hauptman joined the Office of Communications, then called the Office of Public Affairs, in 1993, and was the director of creative services and the editor of The Brandeis Review, an alumni magazine, now called The Brandeis University Magazine, for 12 years.

According to Hauptman, Miles initiated a "systematic marginalization" of him in the office in order to assert her authority and gain more control in the office.

"I had a very, very strong following among my staff," Hauptman said.

Until Miles became his boss in 2003, Hauptman said he always received "glowing" reviews of his work. But in Miles' 2005 review, she criticized his managerial skills.

"Upon receipt of the review, I was shocked at its negativity and brutality," Hauptman wrote in his affidavit.

Hauptman said Miles demoted him to senior writer of the magazine last spring because she planned to cut the creative services division. However, this division still exists, and is headed by Kenneth Gornstein, 47, who Miles hired in July 2005 as a replacement, Hauptman said.

Miles hired Gornstein to publish the alumni magazine and serve as director of communications in the communications and creative services division. Miles hired Theresa Pease, 60, to edit the magazine last May.

Hauptman said he received a 15 percent pay cut as a senior writer, but accepted the position because he wanted to stay at Brandeis.

Four months later, Miles fired Hauptman "on the spot," Hauptman said, and immediately shut him out of his e-mail account.

"That is such a sudden and insensitive way to get rid of somebody," Hauptman said. "It's common business practice, but it's not common Brandeis practice."

Hauptman characterized the severance package Miles offered as unsatisfactory. It included one more semester of a discounted tuition for his daughter, currently a senior at Brandeis, but no salary or medical coverage.

In order to receive the 75 percent tuition discount given to faculty and staff, Hauptman said he had to sign away his right to contest the firing.

Sullivan, who spoke extensively with the Justice about her firing last month, again said her firing was abrupt and "heartbreaking."

"This was not a job - this was my life," Sullivan said Saturday.

She refused to accept her severance package, calling it "nothing to speak of." It included two months' salary and medical coverage, she said.

Sullivan said it's difficult for someone of her age and experience to find a new job.

"Who's going to hire a 54-year-old coach that's been fired?" she said.

Hauptman has taken a job as the director of communications at the Pike School, a private elementary and middle school in Andover, Mass., after seven months of unemployment.

The University hired the law firm Holland and Knight to handle the case, Hauptman said. A spokesperson for the firm would not confirm any representation of the University.