A former University of Memphis student filed an $8.5 million lawsuit against The University of Memphis Tuesday, alleging instances of racial discrimination and “outrageous conduct” during the 2001 spring semester.
The lawsuit was filed in the Chancery Court of Tennessee for the Thirtieth Judicial District of Memphis by sophomore Bettye Jefferson.
Jefferson, 49, claims black students were segregated and made to stand because of lack of chairs in her Consumer Science classes, taught by graduate student Diane Tepe. She also claims in the lawsuit that Tepe grouped together the 5 black students out of the class of 26 for class projects and made a black student stand to allow a new white student have a seat.
The suit states that Jefferson attempted to explain the situation to Tepe, who it states in the lawsuit “waved her hand to Jefferson and said she would not deal with the issue.”
Jefferson said that she arrived 30 minutes early to one class, “in an attempt to gain a seat” when 10 minutes before class the white student who was given her seat previously, stood over her, “making huffing and grunting noises.”
Minutes later, the complaint stated, “two white students pulled Jefferson’s chair back from the table and pushed her books to the floor.” Jefferson added that Tepe witnessed the whole incident but said nothing to the white students when they left the room.
The suit claims that “Tepe followed Jefferson into the hallway and told Jefferson she was the problem and instructed her not to return to her class again, as she would take immediate steps to have her removed.”
On February 13, 2001, Jefferson said she met with Dixie Crase, chairman the Consumer Science and education department, and Crase said she would put more tables and chairs in the classroom, but told Jefferson not to return to class until speaking with Tepe.
On February 19, 2001, Jefferson said she met with Michelle Banks of Affirmative action, Kathy Story of Judicial Affairs, Crase, and John Schifani, acting dean of the College of Education.
In the meeting, “Ms. Banks told Ms. Tepe that she had violated University policy by segregating students.” Also, according to the suit, “Ms. Tepe admitted that she had a practice of lecturing with her back to the black students and she admitted while lecturing she looked back at the black students while saying, ‘There are people who come into stores and steal’.”
Jefferson claimed that after the meeting “no proper investigation was conducted and no remedial actions were taken.”
The suit stated that, “Jefferson was not allowed to return to class, but was provided with a mechanism to complete her course outside the classroom. However, this action made Jefferson feel even more isolated and deprived of her important instruction.” Jefferson claimed that “on April 5, 2001, she received instructions by the Defendant,” the U of M, “to withdraw as a student.”
Jefferson, who previously held a 3.7 grade point average, did not sign the withdrawal form and received a grade of “F” for each of her five courses. Because she did not sign the withdrawal form, the U of M put a hold on her Fall 2001 registration.
She states in her complaint that she has “suffered injuries, including loss of income and benefits, humiliation, embarrassment and emotional distress.” When questioned, Tepe had not yet heard of her involvement in the lawsuit.
“I haven’t heard anything about it,” Tepe said.
Story, Banks, Crase and Schifani all had no comment, except that they were not in a position to speak about it. The U of M administration had no comment at the time.
Jefferson said that she did not want to comment on the suit because it is pending.
