Jury finds no bias by Harvard
Librarian loses race, gender case
Harvard University did not discriminate against a black assistant librarian who alleged that she was repeatedly bypassed for promotion and was told she was just a ''pretty girl" who dressed too sexy to get ahead, a federal jury found yesterday.
Desiree Goodwin, 40, of Arlington, a Cornell University graduate who has two master's degrees, kept her composure after the all-white jury of five men and one woman announced its verdict. ''At least I stood up for myself," she said.
Jurors, who had deliberated for half a day following a two-week trial in US District Court in Boston, rejected Goodwin's claim that because she was black and female, she was bypassed for 16 promotions and kept in the same job since being hired by Harvard in 1994.
Goodwin testified that she was shocked in December 2001 when a supervisor told her that she'd never get another job at Harvard because others viewed her as a ''pretty girl" who dressed in sexy outfits, including tight pants and low-cut blouses.
Joe Wrinn, a spokesman for Harvard, released a statement last night saying that the jury's verdict ''supports what we have said from the beginning, that racial and gender discrimination were not a factor.
''Employment at Harvard is based on the specific work skills and work history applicants bring to specific jobs. We have always believed that to be the case, and today the jury has agreed," the statement said.
Although disappointed in the verdict, Goodwin said she was grateful to her lawyers and believes that it is difficult, under federal law, to prove discrimination based on race or gender.
Goodwin said she will continue to work as an assistant librarian at the Frances Loeb Library at Harvard's Graduate School of Design while looking for a better job.
''I'm still going to work hard," she said, adding, ''I respect myself, and I hope others respect me, too."
Although she has yet to receive any job offers, Goodwin said that because of the publicity her case has garnered, ''I've gotten a few love letters from some far-flung places."
