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Harvard Library Worker Loses Bias SuitA Harvard library assistant has lost a federal lawsuit in which she claimed that university officials had declined to hire her for professional librarian posts 16 times since 1999 because she is an attractive African American. After four hours of deliberation April 4, a jury of five white women and one white man found that Desiree Goodwin, 40, was not discriminated against because of her race or gender, and therefore was ineligible to receive punitive damages or back pay based on denied job advancements, according to the April 5 Harvard Crimson.During summation arguments, Harvard’s attorney, Richard J. Riley, asked the jury to consider “Where is the evidence that race or gender had anything to do with this?” Goodwin’s attorney, Richard Clarey, countered that the plaintiff “was told by several people that she should leave Harvard” because the university “is a traditional place.” Goodwin, who has an MLS from Simmons College as well as a master’s in English, contended in the suit, as well as in complaints filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, that she had been advised not to expect advancement because of her reputation for sporting tight pants and low-cut tops. The agencies dismissed the complaints. Goodwin, who still serves as a library assistant at the Graduate School of Design’s Loeb Library, stated after the verdict: “I will continue my job search for a professional position and I’m also looking for top positions at Harvard, as well as outside of Harvard.” As to the finding that the university had not discriminated against her, Goodwin commented, “Let’s see if [Harvard] can live up to the decision.” Posted April 8, 2005. |
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