University of Minnesota Settled Lawsuit with Former Employee who didn’t like Race Descriptions in Crime Alerts

Mentioning the suspect’s race in crime alerts at the university was incorrect, according to a former employee of the University of Minnesota:

Alysia Lajune was hired in 2012 as assistant director of orientation and the transfer experience. In that role, The Pioneer Press reports, she “became concerned about a lack of racial diversity and re-established the Black Faculty and Staff Association.”

She also did not like that UMN crime alerts mentioned the race of suspects because they “often identified suspects as black males.”

…Lajune claims she suffered anxiety and depression as a result of the ordeal, and attempted suicide in March 2014. Her suit against the university sought compensation for “free-speech violations, lost wages, medical expenses, humiliation, emotional distress and damage to reputation.”

A settlement was reached March 10 for a total of $65,000 — Lajune getting $39,000 and her attorney $26,000.

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