|
|
|
HJ0102 |
|
LRB094 19669 RAS 56123 r |
|
|
1 |
| HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
|
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, Both the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus and the |
23 |
| Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus desire to be updated, |
24 |
| annually, on SIU's progress in minority participation in its |
25 |
| fellowship programs; both Caucuses have met with the President |
26 |
| of SIU and have expressed their grave concerns related to the |
27 |
| inclusion of African American and Hispanic-Latino students in |
28 |
| the university's fellowship programs, as well as other facets |
29 |
| of the university; and
|
30 |
| WHEREAS, The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus and the |