Six Discriminatory Scholarships at DePaul University Challenged By Equal Protection Project
“DePaul should know better than to run scholarships that exclude students based on race, color, national origin, or sex. Where were the administrators and staff whose jobs supposedly are devoted to preventing discrimination?”
So far in 2025, our Equal Protection Project (EqualProtect.org) has filed 13 cases with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Education, including a case filed on April 8, 2025, against DePaul University. Since its launch in February 2023, EPP has filed over 70 complaints challenging over 200 discriminatory programs and scholarships.
Our Civil Rights Complaint against DePaul regards six (6) discriminatory scholarships, one of which discriminates on the basis of race and five of which discriminate on the basis of sex.
From the Complaint:
We bring this civil rights complaint against DePaul University (“DePaul”), a private university, for discrimination in six (6) scholarships based on race, color, national origin, or sex in violation of Title VI and Title IX, respectively….
The scholarships listed below are currently active and being administered to DePaul students, according to the DePaul website, and violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VI”) and its implementing regulations4 by excluding students based on their race, color, or national origin, or Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”) and its implementing regulations5 by excluding students based on their sex….
The scholarships include:
Dr. Curtis J. and Mrs. Gina Crawford Endowed Scholarship
Link: https://depaul.academicworks.com/opportunities/49667
Archived Link: https://archive.is/wip/L6yPE
Application Deadline: 11/03/2024
Discriminatory Requirement: “First preference will be given but not limited to African-American students.”***
Margaret M. O’Malley Liput Endowed Scholarship
Link: https://depaul.academicworks.com/opportunities/50555
Archived Link: https://archive.ph/wip/2oqro
Application Deadline: November 24, 2024
Discriminatory Requirement: “Awarded to a female student…”***
Barbara L. Laughlin Endowed Scholarship
Link: https://depaul.academicworks.com/opportunities/49139
Archived Link: https://archive.ph/wip/I7MqJ
Application Deadline: November 10, 2024
Discriminatory Requirement: “Preference shall be given to female students…”
As we do in all cases, we include a lengthy discussion of the law.
WGN9 in Chicago covered the story:
Fox 32 in Chicago also covered the story:
The Equal Protection Project, a nonprofit based in Rhode Island, alleged that six scholarships listed on DePaul’s website, which students could apply for during the 2024-2025 school year, violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
What we know: The group argued that the scholarships were discriminatory because they gave preference to or would be awarded to students based on their sex or race.
One scholarship gave preference, but was not limited to African American students. The complaint argued that the preference violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which bans discrimination on the basis of race, skin color, or national origin.
Five other scholarships listed on DePaul’s website were meant to be awarded to or give preference to a female student. The complaint argued that such provisions violate Title IX of the Civil Rights Act, which bans discrimination on the basis of sex.
While DePaul University is a private institution, it receives federal funding which means it is subject to the Civil Rights Act.
The complaint cited the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that banned affirmative action in college admissions and an Office of Civil Rights guidance letter, which said the ruling applied more broadly, including to financial aid and scholarships.
It then requested the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to open an investigation into DePaul.
A spokesperson for DePaul University says the school does not comment on pending legal processes, adding, “DePaul University has a long-standing commitment to the fair and equitable treatment of its faculty, staff and students.”
What they’re saying: William A. Jacobson, founder of the Equal Protection Project, argued in a lengthy statement that DePaul’s practices violated the law.
“Racial, ethnic, and sex discrimination is wrong and unlawful no matter which race, ethnicity, or sex is targeted or benefits,” he said. “All applicants are entitled to equal treatment without regard to race, color, national origin, or sex.”
Jacobson added, “DePaul should know better than to run scholarships that exclude students based on race, color, national origin, or sex. Where were the administrators and staff whose jobs supposedly are devoted to preventing discrimination? Why was there no intervention to uphold the legally required equal access to education?”
Reminder: we are a small organization going up against powerful and wealthy government and private institutions devoted to DEI discrimination. Donations are greatly needed and appreciated.
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Comments
At last … one worthwhile function within the US Department of Education: Civil Rights Division. (That responsibility could be moved to the Justice Department!)
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