What was the reason for the lawsuit against the University of Colorado Boulder?

The lawsuit was filed due to alleged discrimination and a hostile environment faced by two Indian PhD students after a dispute over heating Indian food.

How much was the settlement for the discrimination case at CU Boulder?

The University of Colorado Boulder paid a $200,000 settlement to the two Indian PhD students involved in the civil rights case.

Were the students' degrees affected by the University of Colorado Boulder incident?

Yes, the university initially withheld the students' earned master's degrees following the dispute, but these were conferred as part of the settlement.

Home / Crime and Justice / Indian Students Win $200K Bias Lawsuit Over Food Smell

Indian Students Win $200K Bias Lawsuit Over Food Smell

14 Jan

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Summary

Two Indian PhD students received $200,000 in a settlement for discrimination.
The dispute began after a complaint about the smell of Indian food in a microwave.
The university withheld earned master's degrees before the settlement.

Indian Students Win $200K Bias Lawsuit Over Food Smell

Two Indian PhD students have secured a $200,000 settlement from the University of Colorado Boulder following a civil rights lawsuit alleging discrimination. The dispute ignited in September 2023 when one student was confronted about the smell of palak paneer he was heating in a shared microwave.

The students contended that the university's reaction to their cultural food manifested systemic bias, leading to a hostile academic environment. Following the incident, their master's degrees, earned en route to their PhDs, were withheld, and one student's assistantship was terminated.

By September 2025, the university agreed to the $200,000 settlement, reinstating the students' master's degrees. However, they are now barred from future enrollment or employment at the institution, marking a conclusion to their academic pursuits there.