https://www.campusreform.org/?ID=13311

Oberlin College has to pay $11 million in damages after a bakery won a lawsuit alleging the school defamed or otherwise libeled the family-owned shop.

The lawsuit, filed by the Gibson’s Bakery shop in November 2017, was settled this week when an Ohio jury ordered Oberlin College to pay $11 million to the bakery after being accused of libelous behavior. Following an attempt to shoplift from the local bakery, the lawsuit alleged that Oberlin employees -- and the institution itself -- spread defamatory information against the bakery for allegedly racist behavior.

In Nov. 2016, an Oberlin student, Jonathan Aladin, was caught attempting to steal wine from the bakery. Two other individuals, according to the lawsuit, were also arrested and accused of misdemeanor assault during the same altercation.

In response to the arrests, protests and boycotts against Gibson’s bakery ensued with protesters accusing the store of being racist as Aladin is a minority. Reportedly, numerous employees of Oberlin attended these protests, passing out allegedly libelous flyers which read: “[Gibson’s] is a RACIST establishment with a LONG ACCOUNT of RACIAL PROFILING and DISCRIMINATION.”

In addition to accusing the bakery of racist behavior, the flyer called for an economic boycott as well.

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"A handful of self-agitated students tried to make something out of nothing," Wood continued. "Oberlin administrators stepped in to assist them, ideologically and logistically. Oberlin didn't count on real people fighting back. The Gibson family had a powerful story to tell. Oberlin College had only supercilious attitude, which it put on display in its court pleadings, and which it continued to display in its letter to alumni."

Wood called for the college's administration to be "held to account" for "creating the climate" in which this incident occurred.



Awesome verdict! However a big concern is while the college has been properly chastised for their absurd behavior, the students have not been. It would be great if some of the students get named in a separate law suit. At the very least their names will be made public so companies will know to stay very well clear of them.