African-American psychologist wins discrimination suit

A psychology professor at the University of North Texas, in Denton, recently won a race discrimination suit against the university.

A U.S. district judge has awarded Francis Terrell, PhD, an 18-year member of the psychology faculty and the only African-American member of the department, more than $124,000 in January for lost wages and mental anguish. Terrell sued the university in 1997 because he believed that since 1989 he was unfairly treated and underpaid compared with his non-minority colleagues.

"My actions reflected disgruntlement among many individuals in the psychology department with the administration at this university regarding how our female faculty and members of minority groups are treated on this campus," Terrell said in a letter to the editor published Jan. 28 in the North Texas Daily, the university's newspaper.

Female faculty and members of minority groups have been mistreated and ridiculed by university administrators, Terrell said. For example, when Terrell was named an APA fellow for his outstanding scholarly contributions, the university administration dismissed it, saying APA gave him special attention because he is an African-American, he reported.

Similarly, when a female member of the psychology department was awarded diplomate status for her work as a practitioner, the administration diminished the honor by saying the standards must have been relaxed, Terrell said.

"The patterns tend to be the same," Terrell said. "But, if you complain about it, you get a comment in your performance evaluation that you are overly sensitive or defensive."

Terrell says he hopes his lawsuit will motivate others to defend themselves against discrimination. He also hopes the university will recognize that there are prejudiced attitudes on campus.

The four-day trial was heard in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Sherman. University officials have asked U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Faulkner, the judge who heard the case, to set aside the verdict and grant a new motion for a trial, or to reverse the case in favor of the university.

APA Home Page . Search . Site Map