MIT prof. resigns to protest colleague's tenure denial

POSTED: 1:13 p.m. EDT, June 4, 2007

Story Highlights

A MIT professor resigned to protest the school's treatment of a colleague
Frank Douglas wrote in an e-mail that he will leave at the end of the month
MIT said in a statement it "deeply regrets" the decision by Douglas

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (AP) -- A prominent Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor has resigned to protest the university's treatment of a colleague who claims he was denied tenure because he is black, school officials said.

Frank Douglas, executive director of the MIT Center for Biomedical Innovation, wrote in an e-mail obtained by The Boston Globe that he will leave at the end of the month because MIT refused to reconsider its decision not to grant tenure to James Sherley.

MIT said in a statement it "deeply regrets" the decision by Douglas, who also is black. It also said it never agreed to revisit Sherley's tenure application.

Sherley, a stem cell biologist, was turned down for tenure two years ago when his department head did not nominate him. He claimed racism but MIT officials denied the allegation. His faculty appointment expires June 30 but he said Sunday he will not leave until MIT re-examines his case.

Sherley held a 12-day fast in February to focus attention on "issues of equity, diversity and justice at MIT and in higher education."