WASHINGTON - A White student at Howard University’s law school is suing the institution for racial discrimination, alleging the school created a "hostile education environment."
Michael Newman, the plaintiff, attended Howard University School of Law starting in the fall semester of 2020 and remained there for just two years until he was expelled in September 2022. He is seeking $2 million in monetary damages for "pain, suffering, emotional anguish and damage to his reputation."
Frank Tramble, Vice President and Chief Communications Officer for Howard University, said that while he could not comment "substantively" due to pending litigation, the university "is prepared to vigorously defend itself in this lawsuit as the claims provide a one-sided and self-serving narrative of the events leading to the end of the student’s enrollment at the University."
Newman suffered "depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts" as a result of "public ostracism, vilification and humiliation," the lawsuit claims. At one point, Global Head of Diversity Recruiting Reggie McGahee allegedly told Newman he had become the most hated student McGahee had seen during his tenure at the university, according to the suit.
When Newman raised concerns over his treatment to school administrators, the law school’s dean allegedly denied that Caucasian students at Howard Law, and Newman in particular, faced racial discrimination to any degree.
Following discussions of Newman’s purported racial insensitivity, students learned of a tweet from Newman’s private Twitter account that included a picture of a slave baring his badly scarred back with the caption, "But we don’t know what he did before the picture was taken," according to the lawsuit.
Newman claimed the tweet was mocking commentators who "attempt to explain away videos of police brutality by claiming the victim must have committed wrongdoing before the video started." He alleged that students responded with references to his race, gender, sexual preference, age and personal appearance.
The trouble started when the university shifted to remote learning at the start of the pandemic, meaning students communicated through purely online forums and through GroupMe chats, Newman claimed in court papers.
After a symposium featuring an African-American speaker in the run-up to the 2020 election, Newman said he posted on a professor’s forum page asking if further dialogue could be had on "whether: (1) Black voters didn’t question turning to government for solutions, and (2) reliably voting for the same party every election disincentivized both parties from responding to the needs of the black communities."
Some students responded negatively to Newman’s post and reached out to school administrators, prompting Newman’s removal from one of his group chats for the class, according to the allegations.
Newman also described feeling "utterly disenfranchised" at the school and compared himself to a Black student at a primarily White university. The student response was again largely negative, with some calling his comment "offensive," he claimed.
Newman repeatedly apologized for offending anyone, stressing he was seeking to "learn, not just law, but to learn the thoughts and experiences of people of color," the lawsuit stated.
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Michael Newman, the plaintiff, attended Howard University School of Law starting in the fall semester of 2020 and remained there for just two years until he was expelled in September 2022. He is seeking $2 million in monetary damages for "pain, suffering, emotional anguish and damage to his reputation."
Frank Tramble, Vice President and Chief Communications Officer for Howard University, said that while he could not comment "substantively" due to pending litigation, the university "is prepared to vigorously defend itself in this lawsuit as the claims provide a one-sided and self-serving narrative of the events leading to the end of the student’s enrollment at the University."
Newman suffered "depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts" as a result of "public ostracism, vilification and humiliation," the lawsuit claims. At one point, Global Head of Diversity Recruiting Reggie McGahee allegedly told Newman he had become the most hated student McGahee had seen during his tenure at the university, according to the suit.
When Newman raised concerns over his treatment to school administrators, the law school’s dean allegedly denied that Caucasian students at Howard Law, and Newman in particular, faced racial discrimination to any degree.
Following discussions of Newman’s purported racial insensitivity, students learned of a tweet from Newman’s private Twitter account that included a picture of a slave baring his badly scarred back with the caption, "But we don’t know what he did before the picture was taken," according to the lawsuit.
Newman claimed the tweet was mocking commentators who "attempt to explain away videos of police brutality by claiming the victim must have committed wrongdoing before the video started." He alleged that students responded with references to his race, gender, sexual preference, age and personal appearance.
The trouble started when the university shifted to remote learning at the start of the pandemic, meaning students communicated through purely online forums and through GroupMe chats, Newman claimed in court papers.
After a symposium featuring an African-American speaker in the run-up to the 2020 election, Newman said he posted on a professor’s forum page asking if further dialogue could be had on "whether: (1) Black voters didn’t question turning to government for solutions, and (2) reliably voting for the same party every election disincentivized both parties from responding to the needs of the black communities."
Some students responded negatively to Newman’s post and reached out to school administrators, prompting Newman’s removal from one of his group chats for the class, according to the allegations.
Newman also described feeling "utterly disenfranchised" at the school and compared himself to a Black student at a primarily White university. The student response was again largely negative, with some calling his comment "offensive," he claimed.
Newman repeatedly apologized for offending anyone, stressing he was seeking to "learn, not just law, but to learn the thoughts and experiences of people of color," the lawsuit stated.
**rest of article in link below**
White student sues Howard University for $2 million over racial discrimination
A White student at Howard University’s law school is suing the institution for racial discrimination, alleging the school created a "hostile education environment."
no awareness dumb shyt...and like a typical clown, tries to play the victim when he was being a dumbass.
and now he's crying racism?
Play stupid games win stupid prizes.
