Pennsylvania universities accused of discrimination against Asian students in federal complaint

The Equal Protection Project (EPP), a nonprofit watchdog group, filed a civil rights complaint on Jan. 28 against four Pennsylvania universities alleging racial discrimination against students.

The accused universities include Millersville University, Slippery Rock University, East Stroudsburg University and West Chester University. The group participates in the Keystone Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, a program funded by the National Science Foundation that supports minority students in pursuing science, technology, engineering or mathematics, according to LancasterOnline. 

The program defines “underrepresented minorities” as African American, Hispanic American, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Native Pacific Islander. 

The EPP alleges that the universities are violating the Equal Protection Clause under Title VI and the 14th Amendment through these eligibility requirements. 

“By having a description of the program that requires you be how they have defined minority and by having an application which requires that you certify that you are one of these minorities they are in fact discriminating and excluding other people,” EPP founder William Jacobson said to WGAL. 

The complaint states that the program is “underinclusive, since the racial restriction is arbitrary and excludes swaths of candidates who could benefit from the programs but who are not permitted to apply due to their race and skin color.” 

The EPP is requesting an investigation and possible imposition of fines and suspension of federal funding, according to NextShark.

Millersville University spokesperson Kacskos released a statement on Jan. 30 that the program will continue running unless the university receives instructions to stop, LancasterOnline reported. Currently, the university is awaiting guidance from the Department of Education and their legal counsel. 

“Millersville University is dedicated to upholding our core values of exploration, professionalism, public mission, inclusion, integrity and compassion,” Kacskos wrote in the statement. “We will continue to maintain an environment in which all members of our campus community feel safe and supported while pursuing their educational and professional goals.”