Worker Who Smashed Yale Window Depicting Slavery Gets Job Back

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (CBSNewYork)-- A former Yale University employee has been rehired after deliberately smashing a stained-glass window on campus that depicted slavery.

Corey Menafee, who is African-American, told reporters outside New Haven Superior Court last month that he probably shouldn't have taken a broomstick to the window, but he found the image disturbing. He said he got tired of looking at the "racist, discriminatory image of slaves carrying cotton," as reported by WCBS 880's Fran Schneidau. 

Since then, Menafee has expressed remorse for his action and now Yale has agreed to put him back at the payroll.

The window was inside Calhoun College, named for former Vice President John C. Calhoun, an ardent defender of slavery during the 19th century. The college's name has been the subject of protests by students who want it changed.

Menafee served a 5-week unpaid suspension following the incident, but will return to work next week.

Meanwhile, the university has acknowledged that it decided to remove similar stained-glass windows only after the window-breaking incident. Yale said an artist specializing in stained glass will be commissioned to design new windows, with input from the Yale community, including students, on what they should depict.