Recently, faculty members from the Africana Studies department at the University of Massachusetts Boston filed a discrimination complaint with the state of Massachusetts alleging prolonged mistreatment from the university’s administration.
In the complaint, the faculty members claim the university’s removal of Jemadari Kamara as department chair in 2022 was unfair and cite other instances of discrimination such as inadequate staffing, the prevention of professors from earning tenure, and a lack of funding for department events. They also claim the university’s administration has created a hostile work environment, presenting examples such as avoiding eye contact with and refusing to speak to the department’s faculty.
Additionally, the discrimination claim highlights a third-party review of the department that the university ordered in 2022 with the law firm, Prince Lobel. The report, which cost the university $250,000, was never released in-full and instead only the executive summary was made available for review.
The University of Massachusetts Boston has 90 days from the date the complaint was filed to respond. If no progress into the investigation has been made at that time, the case could be taken to the Federal Court or the Superior Court of Massachusetts.
