Wright, who is white, serves as a fellow of the conservative Manhattan Institute think tank. Wright participated in a postdoctoral research fellowship at Pennsylvania State University, which he completed in April 2020. According to the lawsuit, Wright submitted a formal EEOC discrimination charge against Cornell 180 days before Monday. “Cornell’s practices violate federal law and fundamental principles of equality. “The university trains faculty and staff on recruitment practices that comply with our non-discrimination policy.”Kinney’s statement also addressed “personal attacks” that she explained were “leveled against our faculty members” within the AFPI complaint.