A Lehigh University professor is suing the school for ignoring her complaints of sexual harassment by a prominent black colleague.
In a lawsuit filed on Mar. 7, Monica Miller, an associate professor of religion and Africana studies, alleged the school of delaying action against the past director of Africana studies and English professor, James Braxton Peterson, despite providing ample evidence to take action.
Miller claimed this was because the school was more concerned about its diverse image than the wellbeing of its faculty.
Peterson resigned from Lehigh in January 2018 after an internal investigation found him involved in sexual misconduct. Court filings allege Peterson of sexually harassing Miller since 2013 when she was first hired by the university. They also allege Peterson of making lewd comments and gestures, calling at late hours, and of inappropriately touching Miller during her hiring process.
“Peterson was the de facto diversity spokesperson always praising Lehigh for its diversity initiatives,” the lawsuit states. “This is the main reason Lehigh ignored the fact, despite overwhelming evidence, that Peterson was a serial sexual harasser and predator of young women, and other employees.”
The suit alleges the university of using Miller as a tool to broadcast a diverse image in the backdrop of a federal investigation on ignoring complaints from minority students.
Furthermore, despite the fact she was not the most qualified candidate for the role, Miller claimed that the university made her in charge of the Africana studies program because of her race, where she became the victim of “a hostile environment of intimidation and harassment,” according to The Morning Call report.
University officials have denied these allegations and have decided to defend the case in court.
“The university has reviewed the complaint and is prepared to defend the matter,” the statements reads. “The university is committed to an environment that is safe and free from all forms of discrimination.”
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