Doane University: Punishment of librarian who displayed historical blackface photos
Cases
Doane University
Case Overview
In April 2019, Doane University investigated and suspended faculty librarian Melissa Gomis for curating a historical photo display, entitled 鈥淧arties of the Past,鈥 consisting of photos selected from the university鈥檚 archival collection. Two of the photos showed Doane students wearing blackface at a 1926 masquerade party. During the investigation, Doane President Jacque Carter sent a campus-wide email discussing the matter in detail, and Doane administrators commented extensively to local media, explaining the university鈥檚 position that the display lacked 鈥渁ppropriate educational context鈥 and may have constituted 鈥渄iscriminatory harassment.鈥 On May 17, 2019, FIREand the National Coalition Against Censorship sent a joint letter to Doane asking the school to clarify whether it actually honors the strong promises of academic freedom it makes to faculty. Doane鈥檚 lawyer responded that the university 鈥渄oes not and will not comment on internal employee issues.鈥