Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis: Student Employee Found Guilty of 'Racial Harassment' for Reading a Book
One of FIRE's most shocking cases in 2008 was that of Keith John Sampson, a student-employee at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) who was found guilty of racial harassment for merely reading the book Notre Dame vs. the Klan: How the Fighting Irish Defeated the Ku Klux Klan during his work breaks. Thanks to FIRE's involvement and the extensive media coverage of the case, the finding against Sampson was eventually overturned and his school record was cleared, but the story behind this incident is still disturbing.
Case Materials
"Political Correctness vs. Freedom of Thought - The Keith John Sampson Story," February 27, 2009: One of FIRE's most shocking cases in 2008 was that of Keith John Sampson, a student-employee at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) who was found guilty of racial harassment for merely reading the book Notre Dame vs. the Klan: How the Fighting Irish Defeated the Ku Klux Klan during his work breaks. Thanks to FIRE's involvement and the extensive media coverage of the case, the finding against Sampson was eventually overturned and his school record was cleared, but the story behind this incident is still disturbing months later. Filmmaker Andrew Marcus has produced a short documentary on Sampson's case in the hopes of restoring his reputation and bringing to light the incidents of censorship that are all too common on college campuses today.
"Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis Attacks Student Cleared of Racial Harassment," FIRE Press Release, July 8, 2008: Two months ago, in the face of withering public criticism, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) revoked its original finding that student-employee Keith John Sampson had committed racial harassment by reading a book at work that celebrated the defeat of the Ku Klux Klan in a 1924 street brawl. Now, IUPUI is claiming that Sampson was in fact punished for some other behavior, but the school refuses to reveal any details of this alleged conduct. FIRE is calling on IUPUI to either reveal and prove this alleged offense or stop publicly smearing its own student.
"Victory at IUPUI: Student-Employee Found Guilty of Racial Harassment for Reading a Book Now Cleared of All Charges," FIRE Press Release, May 1, 2008: Administrators at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis have revoked their finding that a student-employee was guilty of racial harassment merely for publicly reading the book Notre Dame vs. the Klan: How the Fighting Irish Defeated the Ku Klux Klan. Following pressure from FIRE, IUPUI has declared that Keith John Sampson's record is clear and said it will reexamine its affirmative action procedures relating to internal complaints.
"New Video Documents Student-Employee Found Guilty of Harassment for Reading a Book," Erin Osovets, December 23, 2008: One of FIRE's most shocking cases in 2008 was that of Keith John Sampson, a student-employee at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) who was found guilty of racial harassment for merely reading the book Notre Dame vs. the Klan: How the Fighting Irish Defeated the Ku Klux Klan during his work breaks. Thanks to FIRE's involvement and the extensive media coverage of the case, the finding against Sampson was eventually overturned and his school record was cleared, but the story behind this incident is still disturbing months later. Filmmaker Andrew Marcus has produced a short documentary on Sampson's case in the hopes of restoring his reputation and bringing to light the incidents of censorship that are all too common on college campuses today.
"Institutional Disharmony at IUPUI," Azhar Majeed, July 14, 2008: Keith John Sampson has received a letter from Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Chancellor Charles R. Bantz apologizing for the poor treatment he received at the hands of the university. In the letter, Bantz reaffirms that the university's Affirmative Action Office was wrong to conclude that Sampson's act of reading a book during his work breaks constituted racial harassment. Bantz further states that he now considers the matter resolved. However, university relations officials at IUPUI have made recent public statements to the effect that the harassment finding against Sampson stemmed from other, undisclosed conduct, thus preventing the matter from being truly resolved. While Bantz's letter constitutes progress on the part of IUPUI, the public smearing of Sampson remains unacceptable.
"FIRE Column on IUPUI Racial Harassment Finding in ‘Indy Star’," Emily Guidry, March 25, 2008: Today's Indianapolis Star features a column written by FIRE's Azhar Majeed, a Justice Robert H. Jackson Fellow, on Keith Sampson's case at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Sampson, a student-employee, was found guilty of racial harassment for reading the book Notre Dame vs. the Klan: How the Fighting Irish Defeated the Ku Klux Klan. Following a complaint from Sampson's coworkers, IUPUI's Affirmative Action Office (AAO) sent Sampson a letter of reprimand informing him that he had been found guilty of racial harassment, but failed to afford him a hearing or any opportunity to defend himself. The AAO eventually sent Sampson a second letter acknowledging that he is free to read the book during his work breaks, but failed to apologize or admit wrongdoing for its handling of the matter. FIRE has called on IUPUI to remove the harassment finding from Sampson's record and to hold the AAO accountable for its actions.
