Fired 'Noose' Prof Sues Columbia for $200M

Plagiarism allegation was 'cooked up,' lawyer says

By Ambreen Ali, Newser User

Posted Apr 23, 2009 11:12 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Columbia University professor fired for plagiarism shortly after a noose was found hanging on her office door is suing her former school for $200 million. Madonna Constantine’s reputation was ruined by the “baseless” allegation, her lawyer tells CNN. The black professor has previously charged that the noose incident is related and that she was “systematically targeted” by the Teachers College.

“This was a scheme cooked up between the head of the department and former faculty,” the attorney bringing Constantine’s defamation suit says. “We had evidence of her original writing that dates back to the 1990s, but it was altered or dismissed.” A Columbia spokeswoman responds, “This case is totally without merit and the college intends to defend against it vigorously.”

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

In this photo released by the New York City Police Department, a four foot long noose hangs from a door knob of Constantine's office nearly two years ago. (AP Photo)

Professor Madonna Constantine, right, speaks at a protest rally at Teachers College at Columbia University shortly after the noose was discovered. (AP Photo)

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As one of only two tenured black women full professors at Teachers College, it pains me to conclude that I have been specifically and systematically targeted.
- Madonna Constantine,
in an e-mail to students

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Fired 'Noose' Prof Sues Columbia for $200M