Professor sues Tuskegee claiming age, race discrimination

TUSKEGEE, Ala. (AP) — A white professor at historically black Tuskegee University says he’s suing the school, claiming he’s been denied the salary he deserves because of discrimination.

The Montgomery Advertiser reports physics professor Marshall Burns held a press conference Tuesday. He said he hasn’t considered leaving Tuskegee because he loves teaching students.

He says he gets an associate professor’s salary despite being a full professor since 1980 and asking for a raise at least 12 times. His lawsuit claims age and race discrimination.

Burns, who earned his PhD. in 1972, said he’s paid $60,500 while younger full professors make between $78,000 and $90,000. He says the denial of a full professor’s salary has cost him $400,000 over his career. The Advertiser says the university didn’t respond to its request for comment.

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Information from: Montgomery Advertiser, http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com