Groups Rally for Yale Worker Accused of Smashing Slavery Image

New Haven, CT- A black dishwasher at Yale University is facing a felony charge and lost his job after he smashed a stained-glass panel in a dining hall that depicted slaves carrying cotton.

The incident happened in the Calhoun residential college, which is named after John Calhoun, a 19th-century vice president and proponent of slavery.

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Part of the stained glass fell onto the street and a passerby, Yale University said in a statement.

“The employee apologized for his actions and subsequently resigned from the University,” the university said in its statement. “The University has requested that the State’s Attorney not press charges. Yale is also not seeking restitution.”

The employee, Corey Menafee told the New Haven Independent that he impulsively decided to break the panel June 13 with a broomstick and regretted the decision. He said he was tired of seeing the panel.

Dozens showed up to Menafee’s court appearance Tuesday, according to the New Haven Register. His lawyer Patricia Kane told Judge Philip Scarpellino that there was a private agreement with Yale not to prosecute and the case was continued.

Some members of the Yale community have petitioned to have the college renamed, according to the New York Times.The university changed the name of faculty leaders at colleges to heads of college from the old term of master after some students and faculty expressed discomfort.

Menafee grew up in New Haven, has two children and graduated from Virginia Union University with a degree in mass communications, according to the Independent. He worked at Yale since September 2007.
He was arrested and charged by Yale University Police with first-degree criminal mischief and second-degree reckless endangerment.

Yale President Peter Salovey started an initiative in April to review Yale’s history with regard to slavery. A committee recommended in June that the window and some others be removed and conserved for future study.

“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,” the university said in its statement.

Image via Addy Cameron-Huff/Flickr Commons