The U.S. Department of Education has launched an investigation into the University of Wisconsin-Madison, alleging that whistleblowers of the fellowship program discriminated on the basis of race.
The Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights violated the school's Creand Communidad: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Fellows Program, filed in January by the bipartisan Equal Protection Project. The investigation began on Monday after a complaint was filed. .
William Jacobson, founder of the Equal Protection Project, said, “OCR's opening of the investigation is an attempt to educate universities about a program that ostensibly discriminates in favor of 'BIPOC' students based on racial and ethnic classification.” “This is an important first step in holding people accountable.” He said he is also a professor at Cornell University School of Law. washington examiner In a statement. “The law requires equal protection for all students, regardless of race or ethnicity, and we hope that a thorough investigation and decision will uphold this principle.”
A Department of Education civil rights investigation is initiated to investigate the validity of a complaint and does not necessarily represent the validity of the complaint. In a letter to the Equal Protection Project confirming that an investigation has been launched, OCR stated: OCR will collect and analyze the evidence necessary to make a decision regarding the complaint. ”
University spokeswoman Kelly Tyrrell said. washington examiner The school said it had been notified of the investigation and would “cooperate” with the Department of Education.
“The harm of racial education barriers is that they racialize not just specific programs but the entire campus,” Jacobson said. “Sending a message to students that access to opportunity is dependent on their race is damaging to the fabric of our campuses.”
According to the website, the “BIPOC” fellowship in question is “a monthly cohort-based program that connects undergraduate students of color who are currently participating in or seeking to participate in community activities.” It is said that The school's fellowship includes a $500 stipend and his 90-minute conference for participants.
The Equal Protection Project's January complaint said the program limits fellow candidates to “members.”[s] of a historically underrepresented racial, ethnic group, or community. ”
Several of the program's web pages containing racial requirements appear to have been removed from the university's website.
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The Equal Protection Project alleges that the Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 are violated, and the group cites the Supreme Court's decision striking down affirmative action. ing. Students aiming for fair admission Case.
“Following the Supreme Court’s ruling on fair admissions for students, it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of race to achieve diversity, and inter alia the 14th Amendment to the Equal Protection of the Laws It's clear that it violates the rights of people,” Jacobson said. He said. As Chief Justice Roberts wrote in the majority opinion:[e]Limiting racism means eliminating all racial discrimination. ”
