A black couple says officials at Emporia State University in Kansas have ignored their complaints about a racial incident and are retaliating against them for complaining.

Angelica Hale is an assistant to the dean of the School of Library & Management. She says the problems began when someone tampered with items in her graduate assistant’s office in April and wrote a racial epithet aimed at Hale and her husband, Melvin Hale, an assistant professor. She says the school’s dean, Gwen Alexander, originally promised to investigate but has not done so.

The Hales contend the school has instead created a hostile work environment since they complained. Angelica Hale says she resigned Monday.

The university says the incident is being investigated and appropriate action will be taken when that is complete.