A former Central Michigan University dance professor is suing the school and its administration, claiming alleged racial discrimination and retaliation that resulted in unlawful termination.
Ricky “Bird” Clarkson filed a lawsuit on July 18 in Michigan's Eastern U.S. District Court against CMU’s Board of Trustees, Dance Program Director Heather Trommer-Beardslee, College of Arts and Media Dean Jefferson Campbell and Chair of the Theater and Dance Department Keeley Stanley Bohn.
The lawsuit reads that Clarkson, who is Black, was allegedly denied several professional opportunities, such as his ability to teach classes other than hip-hop, attending student auditions, promoting his events and choreographing faculty dance concerts.
“He was [at CMU] for over a decade and just watching how a man's career can be lost by discrimination like this, it was really disheartening, and he wants to raise awareness not only for himself, but for others and to just make the world a better place,” said Crystal Bultje, Clarkson’s attorney during a phone call with WCMU.
In addition, the lawsuit claims that Trommer-Beardslee allegedly asked white students whether they felt comfortable and safe when dancing or travelling with Clarkson.
“She was really interrogating them,” Bultje said. “We’re talking about adults who were going to dance competitions, he was taking them to national dance competitions. ... His students were being asked all kinds of invasive, intrusive questions that they were even uncomfortable with.”
In an emailed statement to WCMU, a CMU spokesperson said the university doesn't comment on pending litigation.
Clarkson started at CMU in 2009 as a dance faculty member. But discrimination based on his race intensified around 2021, the lawsuit claims.
In March 2023, Clarkson submitted a complaint to CMU's Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity. According to the lawsuit, after an investigation, the office concluded that Clarkson faced discrimination based on his race. But after the report was filed, CMU administrators didn't find a solution for the problem, the lawsuit claims.
Clarkson taught his last class in the spring of 2023. As a result of coming forward with his complaint, the lawsuit claims Clarkson faced retaliation and was terminated from the department.
“He experienced persistent and extreme racism that cost him and frankly, it cost his students numerous opportunities,” Bultje said. “It ultimately cost him his job. He brought the issue to the attention of [the] CMU administration, nothing happened.”
Clarkson is seeking his job back and compensations for “emotional damages and lost opportunities,” Bultje said. The next step is waiting for CMU’s response.
“[Clarkson] is a reasonable man,” Bultje said. “He would really like to resolve this. This is the path we've been forced to take, but he is hoping for amicable resolution.”
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