An organization that wants the Department of Education to end diversity, equity and inclusion policies at higher education institutions in the U.S. has filed a complaint against SIU-Carbondale.
Defending Education says the complaint filed Wednesday claims SIU-Carbondale is discriminating on the basis of race and/or sex in 33 federally funded scholarships, funds, and programs.
In a recent interview with WSIU, Chancellor Austin Lane said the school is committed to DEI, which is one of the school's pillars.
"Southern Illinois University has historically valued diversity. It's made our campus what it is today. We see inclusion as a very big part of how we are able to attract and retain students."
The complaint states, Defend Education is an interested third-party organization with members who are parents and students throughout the country that opposes, among other things, discrimination on the basis of race and sex in America’s K-12 schools and institutions of higher education.
The complaint lists scholarships, funds and programs administered by the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion...the Enrollment Management Department...the College of Education...the College of Health and Human Services...the Graduate School...the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute and the Student Affairs Department.
SIU officials released a statement late Wednesday afternoon stating, "We have not received any communication from the Office for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education."
Similar complaints have been filed against Indiana University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of California-Berkeley.
