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SOUTHEAST TEXAS RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

White physics professor's suit faults TCU for racial discrimination

Discrimination 07

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HOUSTON – A physics professor at Texas Southern University is suing the historically black institution of racial discrimination.

Christopher J. Tymczak filed a lawsuit against TSU on Aug. 29 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas. Tymczak claims his department chair, Carlos R. Handy, subjected him to disparate treatment because he is Caucasian.

The defendant has employed the plaintiff since August 2006.

According to the lawsuit, Handy, who is black, opposed Tymczak’s professional advancement by denigrating the complainant’s qualifications for promotion and tenure, as well as issued “baseless” reprimands and made “unfounded and defamatory accusations.”

“Dr. Handy’s actions against Dr. Tymczak have been part of and consistent with a pattern and practice by Dr. Handy to take racially motivated adverse actions against individuals who are not of the African American race,” the original petition says.

Court papers further explain that Tymczak proposed a mediation conference within the school to address his complaints of discrimination, but the respondent “did not provide any opportunity for interactive discussions of a mutually acceptable resolution.”

TSU purportedly appointed two faculty members to preside over the discussion between the Tymczak and his superior to which the suit insists “did nothing to resolve” the plaintiff’s concerns.

Per Tymczak, the subject ordeal took a toll on his health.

Consequently, he seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.

His attorney is David T. Lopez of the Lopez Law Firm in Houston.

Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas Case No. 4:16-CV-2621

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