Benedict College, a Historically Black College, Fined for Racism Rap, After Three White Teachers Allegedly Passed Over for Jobs

Benedict College, a historically black college in South Carolina, has been sued after three white faculty members said they were passed over for jobs or let go for because of their race. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleged that the college has "engaged in unlawful practices" and had agreed to pay $55,000 to each of the three former instructors. Under terms of the settlement reached between Benedict and the EEOC, the school also agreed to remind staff about its employment policy prohibiting discrimination, provide administrators, faculty and staff with training and make periodic reports to the EEOC.

In its complaint, the EEOC says art instructor Argiri Aggelopoulou in December 2004 applied for but did not receive a position as assistant art history professor, adding she was instead passed over in favor of a black instructor.

In March 2005, Benedict did not renew teaching contracts for Aggelopoulou and two other instructors - assistant art professor Michael Hale and Katherine Mille, an associate English professor -because of their race, the complaint says.

In a response also filed Wednesday, an attorney for Benedict denied any allegations of discrimination and said the school acted in good faith and treated the employees fairly.

Aggelopoulou was rejected because she was not qualified for the professor job, and her contract wasn't renewed because she was only hired for a one-year position, attorney Carol Ervin wrote.

Hale's contract was not renewed because, after seven years of employment, he had failed to attain tenure - a timeframe under which school policy allowed Benedict to let him go. And Katherine Mille, a linguist, was released in part because the school could not afford to pay both her and another, more senior person with the same position, Ervin wrote.

"The College further responds that it embraces diversity and opposes discrimination," attorney Carol Ervin wrote, citing part of the school's mission statement, which states "Benedict College is an equal opportunity educational institution. We seek geographic, international, and racial diversity in our student body." Source: ABC News

Benedict College says that it opposes all discrimination, I just except the kind it engaged in. They said it right, it costs the school less to pay the former employees than to defend the claims. Well, I guess since they are walking a fine line, they will practice what they preach.