Justice Department Launches Investigation Into CUNY Black Male Initiative After Discrimination Complaint

The Department of Justice announced Tuesday it is investigating CUNY’s Black Male Initiative after receiving a complaint that the program discriminates against women and white men. The Black Male Initiative began 21 years ago and operates at 22 of CUNY’s 26 campuses. Its stated mission is to increase enrollment, retention, grade-point average and graduation rates among minority male students.

The DOJ said the program favors “select non-white minorities” through race-based recruitment and specifically highlights African, Black, Caribbean and Hispanic students on its website. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. ” The Equal Protection Project filed the complaint in early June.

The group, founded by William Jacobson, argued that the program violates federal civil rights laws by giving preference to students on the basis of race. ” Jacobson also criticized a 2012 Obama-era Department of Education determination that the initiative was consistent with federal law.

” The EPP noted in its complaint that the initiative provides educational benefits but maintained those benefits should be available to all students needing assistance regardless of racial or ethnic background.

The group cited the 2023 Supreme Court ruling that struck down race-based affirmative action in college admissions. ” The EPP has filed complaints against more than 120 institutions challenging over 550 race-based scholarships and programs, including at State University of New York campuses, Fordham and Rutgers universities, and the New York State Education Department.