Former Professor Continues to Press Discrimination Suit

In a press conference yesterday, former Assistant professor Ephraim issue vowed to continue his $1.25 million lawsuit against the University, restating his longstanding claim that Harvard's decision to deny him tenure was facially discriminatory.

Since he left the fledgling Afro-American Studies department in 1977, Isaac has said the University circumvented established tenure procedures by rejecting the validity of his specialty, African languages and culture. Because of his race and Ethiopian nationality, Isaac's protests have fueled charges of discrimination by Harvard.

In his lawsuit, which his attorney expects to come to trial by winter or early spring, Isaac is also seeking a tenured appointment to the Faculty.

At the press conference, the National Council for Black Studies threw its full support behind Isaac, calling the case an example of barriers facing Afro-American studies nationwide.

Harvard officials, through unavailable for comment yesterday, have repeatedly denied the case shows any wrongdoing or discrimination by the University.

The University requested last December that the federal court handling the case drop Isaac's complaint, but Judge Walter J. Skinner '48 of the First District Federal Court in Boston rejected the proposal, saying the case raises "genuine disputed issues of material fact."

Isaac first filed suit against the University in 1980, after the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled that Harvard had discriminated against him when it denied him tenure. After the first judge to hear the case disqualified himself because of possible bias, the dispute went to Skinner.

Restriction

Isaac's supporters claim Harvard's failure to grant him tenure stemmed from the University's decision to restrict the scope of the Afro-Am department to exclude Isaac's fields of African study.

"Harvard never questioned my competence. Their position has always been that I was not relevant to the department," Isaac said yesterday.

Saying the African material is vital to the discipline. Black Students Association President Alan C. Shaw '85 said yesterday the current program "is no real curriculum because of (the administration's) attitude."

Shaw said the Ephraim Isaac Defense Fund, an offshoot of his group, last year raised more than $4000 to help defray Isaac's legal expenses.