Civil Rights Group Accuses UC Irvine of Racial Quotas

A civil rights organization has lodged a complaint against the University of California, Irvine (UCI), claiming the institution aims to have its black faculty, students, and staff at levels “equal to or exceeding” the state’s black population, which suggests the implementation of racial quotas within its engineering school.

The Equal Protection Project (EPP), established by William Jacobson, a professor at Cornell Law School, contends that the Samueli School of Engineering engages in race-specific actions that violate both federal civil rights laws and the U.S. Constitution.

“These minimum racial quota goals are quite concerning, especially since UCI is already being investigated by the Department of Justice for similar practices in hiring and admissions,” Jacobson stated.

Part of the now-removed text from UCI’s Samueli School of Engineering website mentioned, “We acknowledge the existence of anti-Black racism and prioritize the campus’ commitment to fostering an environment where Black individuals can thrive. We strive to align the demographics of our community with those of California, specifically aiming to increase the number of Black faculty, students, staff, and researchers to match or exceed the state’s current 6% Black population.”

This phrasing seems to set race-based targets for recruitment and hiring, which EPP argues amounts to illegal racial quotas under federal law.

The complaint references Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race or national origin in educational institutions that receive federal funding, as well as Title IX, which addresses gender-based discrimination.

Additionally, EPP asserts that since UC Irvine is a public university, its proposal and advocacy for this racial initiative contravene the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The organization is calling for a federal investigation into these practices. Jacobson mentioned, “The federal Departments of Education and Justice should examine the policies of UC Irvine and the Samueli School of Engineering comprehensively. If any institution sets minimum quota goals based on race, there could be broader discriminatory policies in play. This systemic discrimination needs serious scrutiny, especially since it seems university officials aren’t addressing it adequately.”

A spokesperson for UC Irvine responded by affirming the university’s commitment to fostering an inclusive environment that enables all students and staff to achieve their academic and professional ambitions. They also noted that the complaint is under review.