University professor 'ordered to inflate grades for Hispanic and black students'

Zach DePierro criticized the «constant stream of racial slurs against white teachers.»

A former professor of English at Pennsylvania State University claimed he was told to inflate some minority grades.

Zach DePiero, 40, has been a teaching assistant at Pennsylvania State University at Abington since 2018. until 2022, claimed he was made to evaluate Hispanic and Black students differently and was told how an employee evaluates their students to determine if they are racist.

Mr De Piero sues university, several faculty members, and 30 members of the board of trustees for allegations that he and other white employees were racially discriminated against.

The lawsuit, filed on June 14 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, alleges that «the State of Pennsylvania pressured De Piero to ensure the same grades for students of all» color lines, otherwise his actions would demonstrate racism, and he would be condemned as a racist '.

It states that «the fanaticism of the university is manifested in low expectations», adding: «They do not expect black or Hispanic students to achieve the same degree of excellence in academic subjects as other students and therefore insist that underachievement must be justified.» ”.

The lawsuit alleges that he was also ordered to “punish” students from East Asia or the Indian subcontinent “to even out outcomes based on race.”

“Racially hostile environment”

Mr De Piero, who is currently an assistant professor of English at Northampton Community College in the Lehigh Valley, also said anti-racist teaching has created a «racially hostile environment.»

He was also pressured into conforming to the political views of his colleagues and was forced to teach that «English is racist and white supremacist», it was alleged.

When he criticized the «continuous stream of racial slurs aimed at against white faculty,” he claims to have been the target of a complaint of intimidation and harassment, as well as a lower job evaluation.

An investigation by the Pennsylvania State Affirmative Action Office found that Mr. De Piero did not was discriminated against and that he intimidated his colleagues.< /p>

The director of the Office of Affirmative Action reportedly told him that «there is a problem with the white race.»

The application claims that he was ordered attend «anti-racist seminars». «, and it has been suggested that he may have mental health issues.

Lisa Powers, assistant vice president of strategic communications at the university, said: «Penn State does not normally comment on pending lawsuits.»