UofL scholarships prompt federal civil rights investigation – WLKY
The university is one of five nationwide being investigated for granting scholarships to undocumented students, LGBTQ+ students and Hispanic students.
The university is one of five nationwide being investigated for granting scholarships to undocumented students, LGBTQ+ students and Hispanic students.
The university is one of five nationwide being investigated for granting scholarships to undocumented students, LGBTQ+ students and Hispanic students.
The U.S. Department of Education this week announced the University of Louisville is one of five colleges they’re investigating for alleged exclusionary scholarships.
The government says complaints of violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibiting discrimination, were made about scholarships granted to three underrepresented groups: LGBTQ+ students of color, undocumented students and Hispanic students.
The department said this investigation aligns with the president’s promise to put America first.
But Chris Hartman, director of the Fairness Campaign, questions how and when this creates barriers to student success.
“Frequently, those students have been marginalized in higher education, just like everywhere else in America,” he said. “The idea that this is what our federal government should be prioritizing, spending its time and spending our tax dollars, ferreting out a $500 to $700 scholarship at a local university is ludicrous.”
UofL alum, Fairen Kia, believes this is another attack on diversity, equity and inclusion.
“We’re taking these opportunities away from K-12 students, but then also from students in higher education,” she said. “I recognize that federal funding is very important.”
But, she’s disappointed that her alma mater conformed to federal pressures and state laws like House Bill 4 and ended or restructured its DEI policies.
“We’re allowing people to, let’s just call it what it is, bully us into changing what we’ve said is going to be our narrative that we’re going to stick to,” Kia said. “The people who you were supposed to be serving are the ones who are being immediately affected by that, and it saddens me to know that we’re not willing to be the fighters that we say that we are. But, I’m a rebel at heart. What that looks like for me is making sure that my fighters have a place to land safely, softly, and we can convene and commune together and be energized by one another.”
To comply with standards to disband DEI set at a state and national level, UofL has made some changes while keeping some cultural observances intact.
The university has renamed the DEI office, removed employee groups like the UofL Women’s Network, and cancelled the annual Lavender graduation celebrating the achievements of LGBTQ+ students.
But on campus, you’ll still see the Cultural and Equity Center, and leaders still plan to honor Black History Month.
“This is why our public institutions exist: to create a level playing field for everyone,” said Hartman. “I expect them to stand by this scholarship and to defend the right of every university across America to support students who need it.”
Four other universities are also being investigated.
A UofL spokesperson said the school is reviewing the claims.
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