Racial discrimination and retaliation are at the forefront of a lawsuit against Sam Houston State University, according to court documents filed in the U.S. Court in the Southern District of Texas on Jan. 18.
Angel Lamb, an African American, is suing SHSU under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, alleging that the former-interim director of the human resources (HR) department denied her a raise and promotion because of her race.
David White, former-interim director of HR, took the position in early 2009 when, the lawsuit alleges, the racial discrimination began. Lamb also claims in the lawsuit that she worked directly under HR Associate Director Cynthia Bennett, after receiving an unrelated promotion from a clerk's position.
"After White's promotion, White and Bennett targeted three black HR employees in an effort to get them to quit and ‘cleanse' the HR department," Lamb alleges in the lawsuit.
Lamb currently works in the department as an associate and has worked for the university for 20 years, according to court documents.
The lawsuit also claims that Lamb received positive reviews on her job performance prior to her and White's respective promotions. However, after her promotion she received a poor review in February 2009.
"This poor review caused her to be denied for a raise, which the white employees at her level received," the lawsuit claims.
It says the same situation occurred again in June 2009, but everyone got a raise "except for three black employees."
In addition to racial discrimination, Lamb's claim also states she was retaliated against for complaining about the issue to a supervisor.
She filed an internal grievance about the promotion denial on April 21, 2010.
She was then allegedly given a warning by Bennett for "‘releasing privileged information.'"
"[Lamb] allegedly internally identified the name of a newly hired employee, although there is no known policy regarding this issue," the lawsuit claims.
"This warning has since been used to further subjugate Lamb and ‘keep her in her place.' The warning was held over Lamb's head and she was frequently reminded that, ‘there is consideration of suspension without pay and it is currently under review.'"
In addition, Lamb is suing for damages, punitive damages and costs related to the lawsuit.
Neither the university nor its lawyers would comment on the lawsuit. Officials had not yet been made aware of the lawsuit at the time they were asked.
There is a conference call scheduled between the two parties on April 23.
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