Ex-Student Says NJ Medical School Discriminated

malikom · May 12, 2009

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. (AP) -- A former student claims in a lawsuit that the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey discriminated against him for the way he described his background in classroom discussions on cultural diversity.
Paulo Serodio said that in 2006, he told a professor and classmates that he was ``white, African, American,'' which he says accurately reflects the fact that he was born in Mozambique but later became a U.S. citizen.
He said some classmates and staff members at New Jersey Medical School found it offensive that a Caucasian man would call himself ``African-American'' and that the fallout led to harassment and eventually his suspension from the school.
Serodio, who lives in Newark, said some school employees and students told him not to describe himself as ``African-American.'' In the aftermath of his comments, Serodio said, flyers were hung around the school mocking him, he was assaulted and his car was vandalized.
His lawyer, Gregg Zeff, said Serodio eventually was suspended for ``conduct unbecoming'' a student.
The suspension came directly from his remarks in class, Zeff said.
Serodio filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Newark on Monday. He is seeking damages from the university and several faculty members and administrators.
University spokesman Jeffrey Tolvin said he could not comment because the university had not seen the lawsuit.
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http://www.1010wins.com/Ex-Student-Says-NJ-Medical-School-Discriminated/4374417

axum · May 12, 2009

And they are right! He is ethnically Portuguese-American and his nationality is Mozambican-American. Nothing more. He probably wanted to get some "benefits" along with the term.

NCBradin · May 13, 2009

That's why I'm very glad that I don't live in New Jersey anymore!

pettyofficerj · May 13, 2009

axum said: ↑

And they are right! He is ethnically Portuguese-American and his nationality is Mozambican-American. Nothing more. He probably wanted to get some "benefits" along with the term.
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regardless of the trivial classroom discussion, they had no right putting him through the racism they perpetrated.

flyers around the school, the mocking, the acts of vandalism

unacceptable

raocha · May 13, 2009

I'm not sure that I believe this. I would assume that anyone who was competent enough to be admitted to medical school would possess the capacity to understand that in addition to indigenous sub-Saharan peoples, the African continent is also home to people of European, Asian (East and South), Berber and Arab descent.

Either this story is somehow being exaggerated or fabricated or this school has terribly low standards for its students and faculty.

Liquid Swords · May 13, 2009

pettyofficerj said: ↑

regardless of the trivial classroom discussion, they had no right putting him through the racism they perpetrated.

flyers around the school, the mocking, the acts of vandalism

unacceptable
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Agreed.

pettyofficerj · May 14, 2009

raocha said: ↑

I'm not sure that I believe this. I would assume that anyone who was competent enough to be admitted to medical school would possess the capacity to understand that in addition to indigenous sub-Saharan peoples, the African continent is also home to people of European, Asian (East and South), Berber and Arab descent.

Either this story is somehow being exaggerated or fabricated or this school has terribly low standards for its students and faculty.
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One thing you'll learn, if you have not learned it yet..

Becoming 'educated' or being intelligent, does not mean you always make the right decisions, or treat other people nicely. Which is why something like this would be possible. Bigots and racists exist at every level.

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Ex-Student Says NJ Medical School Discriminated

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