Group opposed to race preferences files civil rights complaint against Drake University

Yahoo! News - Apr 22nd, 2025
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Drake University in Des Moines is facing a federal civil rights complaint from the Equal Protection Project, which alleges that the university's Crew Scholars Program unlawfully excludes White students by offering scholarships only to students of color. The complaint, filed with the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights, claims this violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race in federally assisted programs. The Equal Protection Project, led by Cornell University clinical law professor William Jacobson, has filed similar complaints nationwide, targeting diversity and inclusion initiatives viewed as discriminatory.

This complaint against Drake University comes amid broader efforts by the Trump administration and Iowa Republican officials to dismantle race- and gender-based educational programs. The complaint also accuses Drake of violating its own nondiscrimination policy. Although Drake's website was updated to remove the race-specific language, Jacobson argues this change implies acknowledgment of wrongdoing. The outcome of this complaint may influence how institutions across the U.S. structure their diversity programs to comply with federal laws, potentially leading to significant changes in policies surrounding race-based educational initiatives.

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RATING

7.2
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a timely and relevant examination of a civil rights complaint against Drake University, focusing on the legal and ethical implications of race-based education policies. It effectively highlights the perspectives and motivations of the Equal Protection Project while providing a clear overview of the legal context. However, the article could benefit from greater balance by including responses from Drake University and other stakeholders, which would offer a more comprehensive view of the issue. The lack of transparency regarding the verification of website changes and the absence of diverse perspectives slightly undermine its credibility. Despite these limitations, the article successfully engages readers by addressing a controversial topic with significant public interest, contributing to informed discussions on diversity and inclusion in higher education.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The story accurately reports on the complaint filed by the Equal Protection Project against Drake University regarding its Crew Scholars Program. The claim that the program was initially described as exclusively for students of color is supported by the article's reference to the university's website. However, the article does not provide direct evidence or screenshots of the website prior to the alleged changes, which would strengthen its accuracy. The story correctly references Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as the legal basis for the complaint. Additionally, it mentions similar actions taken against other universities, which aligns with the broader context of the complaint. However, the article could benefit from more detailed verification of the program's current eligibility criteria and whether the website changes were indeed a response to the complaint.

7
Balance

The article presents the perspective of the Equal Protection Project, including quotes from its founder, William Jacobson, which provides insight into the motivations behind the complaint. However, the article lacks a response from Drake University, which would offer a more balanced view. The absence of comments from Drake or other stakeholders, such as students or diversity advocates, creates an imbalance in the representation of viewpoints. The article could improve its balance by including perspectives from those who support diversity initiatives in higher education or legal experts who could provide context on Title VI implications.

8
Clarity

The article is generally well-structured and easy to follow, with a logical flow from the description of the complaint to the legal context and potential implications. The language used is clear and accessible, making the content understandable to a broad audience. However, the article could benefit from clearer differentiation between factual claims and opinions, particularly in the sections discussing the potential impact of the complaint. Overall, the article maintains a neutral tone, which aids in presenting the information objectively.

7
Source quality

The primary source of information in the article is the Equal Protection Project and its founder, which provides a direct and authoritative perspective on the complaint. The article also references the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights, lending credibility to the legal context discussed. However, the lack of input from Drake University or other independent sources weakens the overall source quality. Including a broader range of sources, such as legal experts or representatives from other universities facing similar complaints, would enhance the article's reliability and depth.

6
Transparency

The article provides a clear overview of the complaint and its basis in federal law, which aids transparency. However, it does not disclose how the information about the website changes was obtained or whether any attempts were made to verify these changes independently. Additionally, the article does not mention any potential conflicts of interest or biases of the Equal Protection Project, which could influence the reader's understanding of the motivations behind the complaint. Greater transparency regarding the sources of information and any potential biases would improve the article's credibility.

Sources

  1. https://www.drake.edu/academics/undergraduate/crew/
  2. https://news.drake.edu/2022/01/14/drake-university-to-triple-size-of-scholarship-and-mentorship-program-for-students-of-color/
  3. https://www.drake.edu/crewscholarsprogram/
  4. http://at1y.stallionstones.com/diversity/getinvolved/crewscholaropportunities/
  5. https://timesdelphic.com/68998/news/the-answer-has-little-to-do-with-affirmative-action-over-the-summer-the-supreme-court-ruled-against-the-admissions-programs-of-harvard-university-and-the-university-of-north-carolina-in-an-affirmat/