HJ0102 Engrossed LRB094 19669 RAS 56123 r

1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 102

 
2     WHEREAS, In November of 2005, the U.S. Department of
3 Justice notified Southern Illinois University (SIU) that it
4 intended to file a lawsuit against the university related to
5 three of the university's fellowship programs, specifically,
6 the PROMPT, BRIDGE, and GRADUATE DEANS programs; and
 
7     WHEREAS, The U.S. Department of Justice has alleged that
8 SIU is in violation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act
9 in its administration of these programs; and
 
10     WHEREAS, Today, African Americans and Hispanic-Latinos are
11 underrepresented in all graduate programs; the subject matter
12 programs at issue have provided access to graduate programs for
13 approximately 85 minority students; and
 
14     WHEREAS, The U.S. Department of Justice and SIU have
15 negotiated a Consent Decree that protects the students
16 currently enrolled in these programs; in addition, the Consent
17 Decree avoids the cost of protracted litigation, with no
18 penalties or fines assessed against SIU, and amends the
19 eligibility requirements of three SIU-C paid fellowship
20 programs; the Consent Decree also allows SIU to avoid potential
21 legal exposure and financial penalty; and
 
22     WHEREAS, The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, the
23 Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus, and the entire General
24 Assembly desire to be updated, annually, on SIU's progress in
25 minority participation in its fellowship programs; both
26 Caucuses have met with the President of SIU and have expressed
27 their grave concerns related to the inclusion of African
28 American and Hispanic-Latino students in the university's
29 fellowship programs, as well as other facets of the university;
30 and
 

 

 

HJ0102 Engrossed - 2 - LRB094 19669 RAS 56123 r

1     WHEREAS, The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, the
2 Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus, and the entire General
3 Assembly have indicated their desire to stay informed of the
4 events surrounding the investigations conducted by the U.S.
5 Department of Justice and the progress that SIU is making in
6 increasing the number of African American and Hispanic-Latino
7 students in both fellowship and graduate assistance programs;
8 therefore, be it
 
9     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
10 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
11 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that Southern Illinois University
12 provide, on an annual basis, an update on minority
13 participation in all fellowship and graduate assistance
14 programs at SIU to the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, the
15 Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus, and the entire General
16 Assembly; and be it further
 
17     RESOLVED, That the President and the Board of Trustees of
18 Southern Illinois University take the necessary steps to ensure
19 that African Americans and Hispanic-Latinos are provided
20 access to and are allowed to compete in all fellowship and
21 graduate assistance programs; and be it further
 
22     RESOLVED, That the President and the Board of Trustees of
23 Southern Illinois University take the necessary steps to ensure
24 that the university establishes and maintains an environment
25 that is conducive to the successful completion of these
26 programs as well as supports the efforts of African American
27 and Hispanic-Latino students in the same or similar manner as
28 it supports all other students; and be it further
 
29     RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
30 delivered to the President of Southern Illinois University and
31 the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University.