FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1997                            (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888
                                 
  U.C.BERKELEY AGREES TO COMPENSATE FORMER FEMALE PROFESSOR FOR
           ALLEGEDLY DENYING HER TENURE BASED ON GENDER


     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A female assistant professor of art
history at the University of California at Berkeley who was
allegedly denied tenure because of her gender will receive more
than $100,000 under an agreement reached today with the Justice
Department.

     The agreement, filed today in U.S. District Court in San
Francisco, stems from a complaint filed by Maribeth Graybill with
the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). 

     In a lawsuit, filed together with today's settlement, the
Justice Department alleged that the University's Art History
Department discriminated against Graybill by denying her tenure
based on her gender, in violation of the Civil Rights Act of
1964.  It also said the school retaliated against Graybill for
opposing the school's employment practices.

     "Today's settlement paints a clear picture for all employers
that the Justice Department will not tolerate discrimination
based on gender," said Assistant Attorney General for Civil
Rights Deval L. Patrick.

     After Berkeley denied Graybill tenure and then dismissed
her, she joined the Art History Department at Swarthmore College,
where she is now a tenured faculty member.

     In 1995, the EEOC referred the matter to the Justice
Department after finding reasonable cause to believe that the
University had discriminated against the professor.  After a
subsequent Justice Department review confirmed EEOC's finding,
the University entered into settlement talks with the Justice
Department.  Today's agreement resolves the case.

     "We are pleased that the University and the United States
have reached an agreement on this matter," said Michael
Yamaguchi, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California.     
     Under the agreement, the Art History Department agrees not
to discriminate against any candidate for tenure based on sex.
Additionally, the University will pay Graybill $113,098, not
retaliate against any person who has opposed practices which that
person believes are discriminatory or who assisted in the
investigation of the case, and provide information to the Justice
Department about its efforts to comply with the agreement.

     The settlement, which must still be approved by the court,
will be in effect for one year.
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