New York University Settles Harassment Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of an African-Born Former Employee

New York University has agreed to settle a race discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The suit was filed on behalf of an African-born former employee who used to work in the university’s library mailroom. The employee alleged that his supervisor frequently referred to the man as a “monkey” and told him to “go back to his cage.” The suit alleged that the university was slow to respond to the employee’s allegations of being subjected to a racially hostile workplace.

The university agreed to pay the former employee $210,000 and pledged to improve its complaint procedures.