Black College Students File Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit Against Nichols College After Being Unfairly Punished for Acting in Self-Defense
Worcester, MA – Two Black college students have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Nichols College after the college expelled one student and barred the other from campus activities and student life following a campus altercation in which the students acted in self-defense. The disciplinary actions taken by Nichols College were overly severe and discriminatory, based on the students’ race and despite their otherwise good standing as students, leaders, and athletes on campus. Other students involved in the same incident, including those who initiated the violence – all of whom are white – were not meaningfully investigated or disciplined by Nichols College.
The students who filed this lawsuit, Shamar Hall and Giovanni McLaughlin, are represented by Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) and pro bono counsel, Zalkind, Duncan & Bernstein LLP. The Worcester Branch of the NAACP stands in solidarity with Mr. Hall and Mr. McLaughlin.
The incident occurred in October 2023, when a physical fight broke out between students. This isolated incident has had a profound impact on the lives of Mr. Hall and Mr. McLaughlin.
“Nichols College unfairly targeted us, putting our futures at risk,” said Shamar Hall, who had been recruited for the Nichols College football team. “I hope this lawsuit prompts the institution to reconsider its approach to racial justice. I don’t want anyone else to go through what we did.”
“Before this, I had never faced any disciplinary action,” said Giovanni McLaughlin, who served as President of Men of Distinction and Vice President of the Nichols College rugby team. “Nichols College had always been a place where I felt welcome and involved. We are seeking a fair and just resolution.”
The lawsuit identifies civil rights violations by Nichols College, including:
- Racially biased investigative practices, including biased questioning and disregard of key testimony provided by Black witnesses;
- Selective enforcement of discipline, with severe penalties imposed on Black students while white students involved in the same altercation were not held accountable; and
- Failure to address racially charged hate speech, including posts on Yik Yak – a school-based social media platform – that were circulating during the investigative process.
“Colleges and universities have a legal and moral obligation to conduct disciplinary proceedings that are fair and free from discrimination,” said Mirian Albert, Senior Attorney at LCR. “This lawsuit is a reminder to all educational institutions that if you engage in or fail to remedy disparate treatment, such as hate speech on campus, there will be legal consequences.”
“Nichols College’s response to this incident reflects a troubling double standard,” said Monica Shah, Partner at Zalkind, Duncan, & Bernstein LLP. “Our clients were punished harshly for defending themselves, while white students involved in the same altercation were not meaningfully investigated or held accountable. That kind of unequal treatment raises profound civil rights concerns and has no place in a fair disciplinary process.”
“When institutions fail to treat students equitably, the NAACP must intervene,” said Fred Taylor, President of the Worcester Branch of the NAACP. “Dismantling systems of bias in higher education is essential, not optional.”
In April 2024, Mr. Hall and Mr. McLaughlin requested that Nichols College address the inequitable disciplinary outcomes by reinstating Mr. Hall in good standing, restoring Mr. McLaughlin’s access to campus housing and academic resources, and undertaking a comprehensive review of its policies and practices to address racial bias and discrimination. Nichols College has failed to take any meaningful action.
As a result of Nichols College’s discriminatory actions, Mr. Hall and Mr. McLaughlin have continued to suffer significant consequences, including substantial disruption to their educational and professional pursuits. Both students were ultimately forced to transfer to new institutions – a prolonged process that derailed their expected paths toward graduation. Through this lawsuit, they seek damages and accountability to ensure that no student of color is subjected to similar treatment in the future.
The complaint is available here: