Park Attendant Claims Duke Official Called Her Racial Slurs

Park Attendant Claims Duke Official Called Her Racial Slurs

A Black parking attendant at Duke has alleged that Executive VP Tallman Trask, the University’s primary financial and administrative officer, used disgusting racial slurs after hitting her with his car during a football game according to Duke Chronicle reports:

The parking attendant, Shelvia Underwood of Raleigh-based McLaurin Parking and Transportation, claims that Trask hit her with with his vehicle Aug. 30, 2014, before a Duke football game against Elon University, and called her a “stupid n*****” as he drove off. Weeks later, Underwood received an apology note signed by Trask after she filed a police report with the Duke University Police Department.

“Dear Ms. Underwood,

I very much regret the incident before the Elon football game. I should have been more patient and I apologize,” the signed note reads.

Trask initially told The Chronicle that he categorically denied hitting Underwood with his car and using a racial slur. When presented by The Chronicle with the apology note, he acknowledged hitting her unintentionally but again denied using the slur.

According to Gawker, the parking attendant was pressured not to file suit against Trask but has since sued accusing him of battery, negligence and more:

Last month, Underwood filed a $100,000 lawsuit in Durham County Superior Court against Trask—Duke’s primary financial and administrative officer—accusing him of battery, negligence, civil conspiracy and obstruction of justice. The complaint lists the University as a second defendant,” and seeks compensatory damages as a result of “pain and suffering as a result of the intentional and malicious conduct by defendants,” as well as punitive damages for the “willful and wanton conduct of the defendants.”

According to the Chronicle, however, this incident did not happen in a vacuum, but is rather part of a larger pattern of racism in the Duke administration generally and the Parking and Transportation Services department specifically.

Discuss.

Duke