Photo: Michael Loccisano / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty Images
BOSTON (WBZNewsRadio) - Boston University has launched an inquiry into Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's Center for Antiracist Research after complaints about the work-culture and possible mismanagement of finances. The inquiry follows a decision to lay off more than half the center's workforce last week.
"We received complaints after the Center for Antiracist Research recently laid off a number of employees." Boston University released in a statement. "Those complaints focused on the center’s culture and its grant management practices. We previously initiated an examination of those grant management practices and that will continue. Based on additional information provided to us, we are expanding our inquiry to include the Center’s management culture and the faculty and staff’s experience with it. We recognize the importance of Dr. Kendi’s work and the significant impact it has had on antiracist thinking and policy. Boston University and Dr. Kendi believe strongly in the Center’s mission, and while he takes strong exception to the allegations made in recent complaints and media reports, we look forward to working with him as we conduct our assessment."
The Center for Antiracist Research was founded in the summer of 2020, days after George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis. Since then, the center has raised millions of dollars to fund a range of projects including a graduate degree program, and national database to gather information to track racial disparities.
Earlier this week, the Boston Globe spoke to several current and former employees who described "a dysfunctional work environment that made it difficult to achieve the center’s lofty goals."
Phillipe Copeland, a professor at the School of Social Work, resigned from his role as assistance director of narrative for the Center over the summer.
"Given recent events at the BU Center for Antiracist Research, I have a story to tell. During my time at the Center, I proposed and developed a new Fellowship Program called "Designing Antiracism Curriculum". This was a collaboration with the Center for Teaching and Learning and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. We successfully launched this new program. I decided I could no longer work at the Center due to the mismanagement I witnessed." Copeland wrote on social media.
On Thursday morning, Copeland said he has yet to heard from the Center or from Boston University since making his story public.
"The silence speaks volumes." He said.
This is a developing story.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App | TikTok