Cornell College (Iowa) Discriminatory ‘Each One Teach One Program’ Challenged By Equal Protection Project

Cornell College (Iowa) Discriminatory ‘Each One Teach One Program’ Challenged By Equal Protection Project

The Equal Protection Project (EqualProtect.org) is a project of the Legal Insurrection Foundation devoted to fighting unlawful discrimination in all forms. While most of our cases have involved race, color, and national origin discrimination, we challenge all forms of unlawful discrimination, including sex discrimination.

Since its launch, EPP has challenged over 850 discriminatory programs and scholarships at more than 290 colleges and universities. This work ensures every student has the opportunity to compete on equal terms.

Our most recent filing on September 9, 2026, was a Civil Rights Complaint against Cornell College in Iowa (“Cornell”):

We bring this civil rights complaint against Cornell College (“Cornell”), a private institution, regarding the Each One Teach One Program (“EOTOP” or “the program”) which racially discriminates in violation of Title VI.

We then go on to explain what the Each One Teach One Program is and how it violates the Civil Rights Act:

The Program is run out of Cornell’s Office of Cultural Life. It is an orientation program limited to students of color that is provided in addition to the orientation program offered to all new students. “The goal of Each One Teach One is to acquaint new students of color with the resources available to them at Cornell and connect them with other students and organizations”. According to the Office of Cultural Affairs the desired outcome for the orientation is to assist in the academic and social development of new students of color, by exposing them to Cornell College community and the programs and opportunities available to them.”

Link: https://www.cornellcollege.edu/intercultural-life/icl-programs.shtml
(accessed August 25, 2026)
Discriminatory Requirement: “Any first year student who is classified as a student of color by the college. Identities included, but not limited to African American, Latinx, and American Indian.”

EPP then explains why such a requirement violates federal law:

The EOTOP violates Title VI by discriminating on the basis of race, color, or national origin. The EOTOP Program limits eligibility to students from “students of color” As noted above, Cornell states that the program is available to students who have been identified as students of color, including but not limited to African American, Latinx, and American Indian. This language limits eligibility to the program for students from racial and ethnic categories, such that students who do not fall within them particularly non-minority students are excluded from eligibility.

As we always do, we then spend several pages explaining why the program violates not only federal and state law, but also the college’s own non-discrimination rules. We then request that a formal investigation be opened.

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.

Robert Fox is an attorney at the Equal Protection Project, and focuses, among things, on filing civil rights complaints against DEI discrimination.

=======================

Donations tax deductible
to the full extent allowed by law.