OAKLAND, Calif.
University of California (UC) women’s basketball
coach Marianne Stanley has been sued over her alleged use of a racial
slur during an argument at a school gym.
Stanley, who drew national news coverage when she alleged sexual
discrimination in an equal pay dispute while coaching at the University
of Southern California, is White. Her accuser, Ricky Marciano, is Black.
The suit says Marciano was playing a pickup game at the UC
Recreational Sports Facility when Stanley asked him to leave the court
before his time was up. When he dismissed her request, she used a
racial slur, lunged at him, and had to be restrained by several
players, the complaint said.
Late last month, an unnamed university official admitted to the San
Francisco Examiner that Stanley used a racial epithet against Marciano
during the October 23 incident but would not comment on what action was
taken.
The suit “is the only way Mr. Marciano is going to find out how
seriously the university is taking this case,” said Robert Kroll, who
filed the suit last month in Alameda County Superior Court on
Marciano’s behalf.
The lawsuit seeks general, special, and punitive damages to
compensate for alleged civil rights violations, assault, and infliction
of emotional distress.
Stanley called several times to apologize but Marciano didn’t
return the calls because “he was really upset with the lady and he
didn’t want to talk,” according to Clarence Livingston, another
attorney for Marciano.
COPYRIGHT 1998 Cox, Matthews & Associates
© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com
