Fired professor claims bias in suit against ASU

A former Arizona State University professor on Wednesday filed a federal discrimination lawsuit accusing the university of firing her based on her race, gender and disability.

Theresa Cameron, who taught urban planning, is asking the court to reinstate her at ASU and award her lost wages and other damages.

In June, ASU President Michael Crow fired Cameron, citing concerns about her "academic integrity and intellectual honesty," the lawsuit states.

Specifically, officials in the School of Planning accused Cameron of plagiarizing course outlines and for allegedly retaliating against students for critical comments the students made in course evaluations.

Cameron denies the allegations and said in the suit that university officials broke ASU policies in the process that led to her wrongful firing.

"There was an effort to get rid of her," Daniel Bonnett, Cameron's attorney, said of the university's actions.

Cameron said in the suit that she was the planning school's only black female tenured professor. Four years ago, Cameron took a leave of absence for medical issues related to stress and depression.

Each school year since, Cameron has requested special accommodations for her disability. But she accuses the planning school of failing to assist her since 2007.

Paul Ward, ASU's general counsel, was not immediately available for comment Thursday.

Cameron joined ASU in 1997 and received tenure in 2000. She earned a doctorate in design from Harvard University in 1991.