White Professor Suing College for Racial Discrimination, Says Black Counterparts Make More

A white chemistry professor in New Jersey is suing the college where he works for racial discrimination, claiming his Black colleagues make $45,000-$50,000 more than he does despite "similar qualifications and experience," reports NJ.com.

William T. Lavell, 66, a professor at Camden County College, in a nine-page lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Camden on Friday, alleges he has suffered "severe emotional distress, embarrassment, humiliation and loss of self-esteem."

Lavell's salary for 2021 is $91,923, while Lawrence Chatman and Melvin Roberts, both engineering professors, made significantly more – Chatman made $137,157 and Roberts $142,600. Lavell in the lawsuit said he holds three professional degrees in his area of certification and alleges that Roberts holds two and Chatman holds one.

All three professors have "similar tenure, qualifications, and experience" but Lavell has more "professional degrees in his field of concentration" than the others, according to the suit.

Lavell discovered the salary discrepancy after filing a public records request with the state in September.

Lavell complained about his pay to college officials, including President Donald Borden, and one of the college's vice presidents, Kathleen Kane, but said his request to increase his salary was denied.

They "failed and refused to investigate or address plaintiff Lavell's complaint of race discrimination," he said in the lawsuit.

Chatman has taught at the school for 30 years and Roberts 31, according to online records. Lavell, who has been at Camden County College for more than 25 years, is seeking more than $150,000 in damages.

Employment lawyer Jamison Mark told NJ.com that the lawsuit had merit.

"The laws for discrimination are there for a reason. Whether you're white, Black or brown, it doesn't matter, you can't be treated unfairly," he said.

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