Story perspectives

CU Boulder Settles $200K Lawsuit Over 'Food Racism'

1/21/2026

Summary

Story summary

Aditya Prakash and Urmi Bhattacheryya, PhD students at the University of Colorado, Boulder, sued the university for racial discrimination after a staff member objected to heating palak paneer in a campus microwave.
They alleged the incident caused retaliatory actions, including funding loss and teaching duties.
The University of Colorado, Boulder settled for $200,000 in September 2025, denying liability but granting the students their degrees, which sparked discussions on 'food racism'.

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Story summary

Aditya Prakash and Urmi Bhattacheryya, PhD students at the University of Colorado, Boulder, sued the university for racial discrimination after a staff member objected to heating palak paneer in a campus microwave.
They alleged the incident caused retaliatory actions, including funding loss and teaching duties.
The University of Colorado, Boulder settled for $200,000 in September 2025, denying liability but granting the students their degrees, which sparked discussions on 'food racism'.