Black lecturer who sued Bristol University for race discrimination loses tribunal claim

A black university lecturer sued the faculty for race discrimination because her nameplate on her door didn’t have her ‘Dr’ title on it.

Among a series of alleged ‘micro-aggressions’, Dr Christabelle Peters complained that the plaque didn’t include her academic title – unlike her white colleagues at the University of Bristol.

The lecturer in American cultural and political history made a string of other racism allegations, including that her office furniture wasn’t delivered and that her payslips weren’t put in her pigeonhole.

Dr Peters also complained that a senior lecturer told her ‘nobody gives a sh*t about Africa’ when she pitched a research idea about the continent, a tribunal heard.

The academic suffered a stroke while in Portugal and the university alleged mistreated her while handling it, it was also heard.

Dr Christabelle Peters accused the University of Bristol of racial discrimination at a tribunal

The lecturer, who is black British of Guyanese origin, has lost all her claims at an employment tribunal.

At the week-long hearing in Bristol, in which Dr Peters represented herself, she brought claims of race discrimination, race harassment, victimisation, and disability discrimination.

The tribunal heard Dr Peters joined the university in September 2016 and placed an order for extra chairs and a coffee table so she could meet students, but it was delayed and she had to pay for them.

She also complained that her title was not included on the nameplate on her door and three times in 2017 her payslips went missing.

Dr Christabelle Peters complained that her door plaque didn’t include her academic title, unlike her white colleagues at the University of Bristol (pictured)

Dr Peters said she was the victim of ‘micro-aggressions’, but the university said they were simple errors and the tribunal ruled in their favour.

The tribunal found the nameplate issue was an ‘admin error’, that another lecturer had the same problem happen to him, and that the nameplates are often prepared by junior workers who don’t even know what they look like.

The tribunal heard in September 2018, when Dr Peters was making an application for a research project about Africa, a senior lecturer told her ‘nobody gives a sh*t about Africa’.

The comment had a ‘marked effect’ on Dr Peters and she felt ‘depressed’ by it and the lecturer who made the comment was ‘gutted he upset her’, the tribunal heard.

The tribunal ruled that the university’s handling of the incident was not motivated by race.

After Dr Peters suffered a stroke in December 2019 and did not return to work, she claimed bosses were pushing for her to take ill health retirement and that this was racist.

However, the tribunal panel found the university was also considering how it could get her to return to work when she was fit and able.

Dr Peters, who eventually resigned in January this year, lost all her claims.

A University of Bristol spokesperson said: ‘We are pleased the judge dismissed all claims made against us, finding no evidence of discrimination.

‘This has been an incredibly challenging period for everyone involved, particularly the witnesses who have been offered our full and ongoing support.

‘We are disappointed matters needed to be resolved through legal channels as we know staff tried their very best efforts to support Dr Peters and address her various concerns. She has since left the University and we wish her all the very best for the future.

‘We are committed to making sure that our University is inclusive for all staff and students, and that everyone feels they belong. We want the experience of studying and working here to be positive and welcoming for everyone. All concerns raised about discrimination are taken seriously and relevant action taken in accordance with our University policies.’