Yale University worker destroys stained-glass window depicting slaves
A black cafeteria worker at Yale University has lost his job after he smashed a stained-glass window depicting two slaves picking cotton.
Corey Menafee, 38, worked in Yale's Calhoun residential college dining hall. He was arrested on June 13 after he smashed the window with a broom. He told the New Haven Independent, he destroyed the window because he was tired of looking at the "racist, very degrading" image.
A Yale worker was tired of seeing this indefensible, racist stained glass window at Calhoun College and smashed it. pic.twitter.com/N7V4EUzHNP
— Aura Bogado (@aurabogado) July 11, 2016
Memafee was charged with reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor, and criminal mischief, a felony.
Since the incident Menafee has apologized and resigned from his position. The college says it has requested the state not press charges against him.
Yale Vice President for Communications Eileen O'Connor sent a statement to the Independent:
"An incident occurred at Calhoun College, a residential college on the campus of Yale University, in which a stained glass window was broken by an employee of Yale, resulting in glass falling onto the street and onto a passerby, endangering [her] safety. The employee apologized for his actions and subsequently resigned from the University. The University will not advocate that the employee be prosecuted in connection with this incident and is not seeking restitution."
According to another statement from the University, it has removed the window Menafee smashed as well as some others and "an artist specializing in stained glass will be commissioned to design new windows, with input from the Yale community, including students, on what should replace them."
