A trial concerning racial discrimination against MU could happen on the school’s own campus.
Former MU assistant track coach Carjay Lyles filed a lawsuit against the system board of curators, head coach Brett Halter and Mitzi Clayton, associate athletics director for compliance, in 2018.
According to the Columbia Daily Tribune, the lawsuit alleges “a continuous practice of exhibiting discriminatory and demeaning behavior toward Black athletes and staff members, including Plaintiff.”
Lyles claims that Halter told him to “lay grass seed’ at his house and when he declined Halter reportedly said “I live at MKT and KT Trail and if I have one more K, you sure won’t be coming because three Ks in a row, there won’t be any of you coming.”
Both parties are reportedly not against holding the trial on campus, especially now that the COVID-19 pandemic renders most traditional juror boxes in courthouses unsafe due to their close quarters.
The campus is one of multiple possible locations. Circuit Judge Jeff Harris disclosed only a few of the other locations, including the Armory Sports and Recreation Center, but did add that the trial is slated to start Dec. 10.
Legal cases have been held on campus before, but never involving the university, let alone when the university is the defendant.
The trial is slated for seven days with the jury selection beginning on Dec. 9. The first of three pre-trial conferences is scheduled for Nov. 23.
_Edited by Lucy Caile|lcaile@themaneater.com_