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The US Department of Justice says that it seeks to sue Southern Illinois University over three graduate fellowships for minorities. The US government says that the fellowships violate Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964.
School officials have asked to be able to present evidence that says the fellowships are not discriminatory.
In the Justice Department''s declaration they say that SIU has discriminated against whites, non-preferred minorities and males in its fellowship disbursements. The letter also stated that the University should stop the fellowship programs by November 18 or else the lawsuit will be filed against them.
University Chancellor Walter Wendler has expressed denials that the fellowships are discriminatory and he has asked to meet with federal officials to discuss the case. In a response, lawyers for the university have mentioned that they are open to changing or stopping any programs if they are found to be discriminatory.
The contentious programs include the Proactive Recruitment of Multicultural Professionals for Tomorrow, which started in 2000 and has provided aid for 78 students. The other program is the Bridge to the Doctorate Program that began last year and have so far given funds to 24 students. The Graduate Dean''s Fellowship, offered to women and minorities who all have overcome significant social, cultural, or economic hurdles in life, was started in 2000 and has given money to 27 students.
Another decision in 2003 by the US Supreme Court struck down the University of Michigan admissions procedures that based their admissions in large part by race, assigning numbers for different races.
The case was brought to the attention of the Justice Department by the group called The Center for Equal Opportunity, who had long fought the fellowships before turning to a legal challenge. The group maintains that the fellowships are illegal by US laws.
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