Dalton Postpones Her Decision On Gender Discrimination Suit

Assistant Professor of Law Clare Dalton, who was denied tenure by President Bok last week, yesterday put off deciding whether to continue a discrimination suit against the University, her lawyer said.

Nancy Gertner, Dalton's attorney, had said earlier this week that she expected the professor to make a decision after a meeting to be held yesterday. But Gertner, speaking through a secretary, said after the meeting that she and Dalton had chosen to postpone the decision.

Gertner would not elaborate on their discussion and, according to a Law School secretary. Dalton has left Cambridge for a week.

Vice President and General Counsel Daniel Steiner '54 said yesterday that he had not spoken with Dalton about the suit she filed against the University in November.

"I really have not had contact with Dalton or her lawyer." Steiner said. "From a legal standpoint, they have plenty of time [to carry out their case]."

Dalton charged in her suit that the Law School faculty discriminated against her because of her political beliefs and her gender in voting to deny her tenure. After delaying the tenure decision for two years, the faculty voted on Dalton's case last spring. Dalton did not receive the two-thirds majority necessary to give her a permanent post at the school. She later appealed that vote to Bok.

Last week, Bok announced that his review--based on the advice of a panel of five outside legal experts--found faults in Dalton's scholarship and that he would not approve her for tenure.