Latest news with #WilliamJacobson
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Civil rights group claims DACA-only scholarships constitute illegal discrimination against American students
EXCLUSIVE - A complaint filed by a civil rights organization on Wednesday alleges the University of Nebraska Omaha is offering scholarships that are discriminatory towards United States citizens. "Providing a scholarship limited to DACA or DACA-eligible students is national origin discrimination," Cornell professor William Jacobson and founder of the Equal Protection Project, told Fox News Digital in a statement. "Because DACA only applies to persons born outside the United States who meet certain additional criteria, restricting scholarship eligibility to DACA recipients constitutes discrimination based on national origin and violates Title VI," he added. "The national origin which is the subject of discrimination is American-born students." The Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was created by former President Barack Obama to provide temporary protection from deportation and work authorization to illegal immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children. Civil Rights Group Alleges A Michigan College's Scholarship Focused On Trans-racial Adoptees Is Discriminatory In the complaint, filed Wednesday, the Equal Protection Project alleges that the University of Nebraska Omaha's Dreamer's Pathway Scholarship Program violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits educational institutions that receive federal funding from discriminating on the basis of race, color or national origin. Read On The Fox News App According to the school's website, the scholarship is open to "students who are Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or DACA-eligible and Nebraska residents who are seeking an undergraduate degree at the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO)." Those who receive the scholarship are eligible to receive renewable full tuition, fees and books for up to 5 years or 3 years for transfer students. One of the other requirements for applicants is that they had to have graduated from a Nebraska high school. "That race- and national-origin-based discriminatory scholarships exist at a major university is shocking and reflects how Critical Race Theory and its offshoots like Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, are deeply embedded in the campus culture," Jacobson said. "It is time for higher education everywhere to focus on the inherent worth and dignity of every student rather than categorizing students based on identity groups." Civil Rights Group Files Complaint Against University Of San Diego For Alleged Race Discrimination The group also alleges that UNO's HDR scholarships violate Title VI as the school's website says, "Preference shall be given to underrepresented minority students, but shall not be the controlling criterion in awarding this scholarship." "As UNO is a public university, its offering, promoting, and administrating these discriminatory scholarships also violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment," the complaint reads. "In Students for Fair Admissions, the Supreme Court emphasized that '[e]liminating racial discrimination means eliminating all of it …. The guarantee of equal protection cannot mean one thing when applied to one individual and something else when applied to a person of another color. If both are not accorded the same protection, then it is not equal.'" Jacobson told Fox News Digital that his organization has filed cases against about 100 institutions challenging over 400 discriminatory scholarships and programs. Fox News Digital reached out to the University of Nebraska Omaha for comment, but did not immediately receive a article source: Civil rights group claims DACA-only scholarships constitute illegal discrimination against American students
Fox News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Civil rights group claims DACA-only scholarships constitute illegal discrimination against American students
EXCLUSIVE - A complaint filed by a civil rights organization on Wednesday alleges the University of Nebraska Omaha is offering scholarships that are discriminatory towards United States citizens. "Providing a scholarship limited to DACA or DACA-eligible students is national origin discrimination," Cornell professor William Jacobson and founder of the Equal Protection Project, told Fox News Digital in a statement. "Because DACA only applies to persons born outside the United States who meet certain additional criteria, restricting scholarship eligibility to DACA recipients constitutes discrimination based on national origin and violates Title VI," he added. "The national origin which is the subject of discrimination is American-born students." The Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was created by former President Barack Obama to provide temporary protection from deportation and work authorization to illegal immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children. In the complaint, filed Wednesday, the Equal Protection Project alleges that the University of Nebraska Omaha's Dreamer's Pathway Scholarship Program violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits educational institutions that receive federal funding from discriminating on the basis of race, color or national origin. According to the school's website, the scholarship is open to "students who are Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or DACA-eligible and Nebraska residents who are seeking an undergraduate degree at the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO)." Those who receive the scholarship are eligible to receive renewable full tuition, fees and books for up to 5 years or 3 years for transfer students. One of the other requirements for applicants is that they had to have graduated from a Nebraska high school. "That race- and national-origin-based discriminatory scholarships exist at a major university is shocking and reflects how Critical Race Theory and its offshoots like Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, are deeply embedded in the campus culture," Jacobson said. "It is time for higher education everywhere to focus on the inherent worth and dignity of every student rather than categorizing students based on identity groups." The group also alleges that UNO's HDR scholarships violate Title VI as the school's website says, "Preference shall be given to underrepresented minority students, but shall not be the controlling criterion in awarding this scholarship." "As UNO is a public university, its offering, promoting, and administrating these discriminatory scholarships also violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment," the complaint reads. "In Students for Fair Admissions, the Supreme Court emphasized that '[e]liminating racial discrimination means eliminating all of it …. The guarantee of equal protection cannot mean one thing when applied to one individual and something else when applied to a person of another color. If both are not accorded the same protection, then it is not equal.'" Jacobson told Fox News Digital that his organization has filed cases against about 100 institutions challenging over 400 discriminatory scholarships and programs. Fox News Digital reached out to the University of Nebraska Omaha for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Equal Protection Project files civil rights complaint against Drake University
An organization involved in litigation with universities across the U.S. has filed a federal complaint against Drake University for allegedly violating Title VI. (Photo courtesy of Drake University) An organization involved in litigation with universities across the U.S. has filed a federal complaint against Drake University in Des Moines, alleging one of its scholarship programs violates federal anti-discrimination law. The Equal Protection Project, a branch of the Legal Insurrection Foundation, submitted a civil rights complaint Tuesday to the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights against the private university. The organization, which says it is 'devoted to the fair treatment of all persons without regard to race or ethnicity,' claims in the complaint Drake is violating Title IV by limiting eligibility of one of its scholarship programs, the Crew Scholars Program, to students of color. 'Drake is expanding DEI activities at a time when the State of Iowa and the federal government are scaling back,' said William Jacobson, founder of the Equal Protection Project, in an emailed statement. 'Regardless of where one stands on the DEI debate, discrimination based on race violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Iowa state law, and Drake's own non-discrimination rules. Drake should open up the scholarship to all students without regard to race.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Drake University spokesperson Ashton Hockman said in an email the university cannot comment at this time, as it has not received any communication from the U.S. Department of Education. The Crew Scholars Program is described online as an 'academic excellence and leadership development program for incoming students with a passion for diversity' that provides $500 annual scholarships to participating students. According to the civil rights complaint, the scholarship program limits participation to students of color. The complaint cites as evidence a university website link and screenshots showing the program description including the language 'The Crew Scholars Program at Drake University is open to incoming domestic students of color in any major.' A different website describing the scholars program eliminates references to race in who is allowed to apply. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act forbids 'intentional discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin' in any program that receives federal support, the complaint stated, and as Drake University receives federal funding, it is in violation of the law. Referencing the U.S. Department of Education's Feb. 14 'Dear Colleague' letter, the complaint stated that regardless of its reasons for offering a 'discriminatory program,' Drake is still violating the law. 'Accordingly, we respectfully ask that the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights promptly open a formal investigation, impose such remedial relief as the law permits for the benefit of those who have been illegally excluded from Drake's various programs based on discriminatory criteria, and ensure that all ongoing and future programming at Drake comports with the federal civil rights laws,' the complaint stated. Drake has reiterated its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion multiple times as state and federal actions have required universities to pull back on such programming, including implementing new programming to ensure all students feel like they belong and speaking out against decisions that negatively impact campus and Drake students. Drake President Marty Martin published a letter in early March telling students they are all welcome at the university despite contrary messages such as legislation to repeal the inclusion of transgender and nonbinary people in civil rights protections. Martin called the law 'one among many current state and federal efforts that seek to turn our differences into division.' 'This is a moral failure against which we stand in opposition,' Martin said in the letter. 'It is our duty to respect, support, and affirm anyone in our community targeted by these actions.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawsuit accuses Westfield State University of discriminatory scholarships
WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A new lawsuit is accusing Westfield State University of discrimination. A federal civil rights complaint was filed by the Equal Protection Project. The complaint says that a number of scholarships at the school that quote 'celebrate diverse experiences' are discriminatory. Westfield State University offers a variety of scholarships to help minority students wanting to achieve their dream of getting a college education. They could be coming from local public schools or a community college. But the Equal Protection Project says that amounts to discrimination. Hampden DA responds to new trial granted in 1984 homicide case 'When we looked, there were six scholarships that are their face, that are discriminatory,' said William Jacobson, founder of the Equal Protection Project. 'Right in the description: '4. On the basis of race or ethnicity,' which violates title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and '2. On the basis of sex,' which violates Title IX of the Civil Rights Act.' The lawsuit states that six scholarships through their 'Westfield State Foundation' listed on their website violate both Title VI and Title IX. The filing includes scholarships that directly go towards helping Latinos, African Americans, and women. The foundation argues that the scholarships are unfair to students who don't fit into those categories. Also, since Westfield State is a public university, the foundation states that these scholarships also violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. 'If you only take third-year students, it should be open to all third-year students,' Jacobson said. 'If you only take first-year students, it should be open to all first-year students. Our goal is not to end the scholarships. We want the students to get the money, but we think every student should have an equal shot.' Jacobson said they did not reach out to the institution, since the applications for these scholarships closed on March 23. Instead, they filed a complaint with the Department of Education in hopes of a formal investigation. 22News reached out to Westfield State University but did not hear back yet. Jacobson also said that over 30 schools with similar cases have chosen not to fight this complaint. They're now asking the office for civil rights to investigate. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Civil rights group alleges a Michigan college's scholarship focused on trans-racial adoptees is discriminatory
A complaint filed by a civil rights organization on Wednesday claims that Calvin University, a Christian liberal arts university in Michigan, is discriminating on the basis of sex and race. "The large number (65) of discriminatory scholarships at Calvin is shocking," Cornell professor William Jacobson and founder of the Equal Protection Project, told Fox News Digital in a statement. "At we have challenged discriminatory programs and scholarships at over 60 colleges and universities, but never have we seen such a large number at any single institution." Randi Weingarten 'Really Angry' Over Ed Dept Elimination Months After Saying Union Members 'Don't Really Care' The scholarships that the Equal Protection Project alleges are discriminatory are the Endurance Scholarship, which requires the applicant to "self-identify as an African American who is a U.S. citizen," and the Trans-Racial Adoptee Scholarship, which requires applicant to be "trans-racially adopted," and the Carol L. Faber Math Scholarship, which requires that "first preference is for a female student." The scholarship amounts are $3,000, $3,500, and $3,100 respectively. The Equal Protection Project maintains these scholarship programs violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits educational institutions that receive federal funding from discriminating on the basis of race, color or national origin, as well as Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex or gender for entities that receive federal funding. Read On The Fox News App In 2020, Calvin University received a $935,000 grant from the Department of Education or $187,000 per year for five years, for students who have disabilities, are low-income, or who are first-generation. On its website, Calvin University lists federal grants for students that include a $7,395 Pell Grant, a supplemental educational opportunity grant for up to $2,000, and a TEACH grant for up to $4,000. Jacobson told Fox News Digital that he hopes Education Secretary Linda McMahon will focus on restoring civil rights. "While the Department of Education is undergoing a restructuring, enforcement of the civil rights laws to eliminate DEI discrimination remains a stated priority of the new Trump administration," Jacobson said. "We hope that Secretary McMahon will maintain this focus on civil rights enforcement in order to advance the administration's overall civil rights agenda. To scale back enforcement would be self-defeating and would undermine efforts to eliminate discrimination done in the name of DEI in higher education." On Tuesday, Department of Education employees received a "reduction in force" notice before about half of the department's employees were let go. Nearly Half Of Department Of Education Staff Will Be Eliminated Imminently In its complaint, the Equal Protection Project quotes Justice Antonin Scalia's concurring opinion in Richmond v. J. A. Croson Co., where he said that "discrimination on the basis of race is illegal, immoral, unconstitutional, inherently wrong and destructive of a democratic society." "Accordingly, we respectfully ask that the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights prioritize and expedite this complaint given the sheer number of discriminatory scholarships at Calvin reflecting a systematic disregard for Titles VI and IX, promptly open a formal investigation, impose such remedial relief as the law permits for the benefit of those who have been illegally excluded from Calvin's various scholarships based on discriminatory criteria, and ensure that all ongoing and future scholarships and programming at Calvin comports with the federal civil rights laws," the complaint continues. Fox News Digital reached out to Calvin University for comment and has not yet received a article source: Civil rights group alleges a Michigan college's scholarship focused on trans-racial adoptees is discriminatory
