Case
Equal Protection Project v. Western Illinois University (Sixteen Scholarships that Restrict Eligibility to Students Who Are “African American,” “Black Women,” “Latino,” or Students who Identify as “LGBTQI+,” or Give Preference to Such Students, Challenged)
Case Particulars
Tribunal
Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights
Date Filed
February 26, 2024
Docket No.
N/A
Case Status
OCR Complaint Filed
Case Overview
EPP brought this civil rights complaint against the Western Illinois University (“WIU”), a public institution, for offering and promoting sixteen (16) discriminatory scholarships that either restrict eligibility to students who are “African American,” “Black Women,” “Latino,” or students who identify as “LGBTQI+.” or give preference to such students. The number and scope of these discriminatory programs reflects a systemic discrimination problem at WIU.
EPP is the Complainant in this matter, which is under evaluation by the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
Case Documents
Media Coverage
- Federal complaint alleges Western Illinois University limits some scholarships by race and gender, Campus Reform (March 27, 2024)
- Western Illinois faces a federal complaint regarding scholarships, Jim Talamonte, Advantage News (March 4, 2024)
- A University in Illinois is being accused of Discrimination, Mark Hespen, KHMO Radio (March 4, 2024)
- Western Illinois faces a federal complaint regarding scholarships, Daily Journal (March 1, 2024)
- Sixteen Discriminatory Scholarships Exposed At Western Illinois University, Amy Jacobson & Dan Proft, Morning Answer (February 29, 2024)
- Sixteen Discriminatory Scholarships at Western Illinois U. Challenged By Equal Protection Project, William A. Jacobson, Legal Insurrection (February 27, 2024)
- Organization files federal civil rights complaint against WIU, alleging discriminatory scholarships, WGEM Staff, WGEM (February 26, 2024)