Complaint Against Fordham University for Women’s Exclusive Business Club
A civil rights discrimination complaint has been lodged against Fordham University concerning a business club meant exclusively for women, which explicitly excludes male students.
The club, sometimes referred to as “Girl Boss,” is for female business students in both undergraduate and graduate programs. Interestingly, men are not eligible to apply. This complaint has been directed to the Civil Rights Office at the Department of Education, backed by the Equal Protection Project.
According to the complaint, the existence of this girls-only program at Jesuit institutions in New York City breaches Title IX. Title IX is a federal law that prohibits gender discrimination. As noted by William Jacobson, a professor at Cornell Law and founder of the Equal Protection Project, the club’s formation and promotion indicate an exclusive focus on women, thus implying that men are not considered equal participants.
Jacobson further elaborated that one gender should not be prioritized over another regarding educational access and career advancement through what are called “affinity groups.” He emphasized that universities receiving federal funds must ensure equal access to education for all students—something these professionally oriented groups cannot circumvent.
“Discrimination based on gender in education, whether it’s to the benefit or detriment of any gender, is unlawful. The legislation demands equality and equal access to educational opportunities,” he asserted.
The “Girl Boss” clubs are part of Fordham’s Gabelli Business School, and they have their own dedicated website.
The club aims to create a supportive environment for women in the business program, offering “vision and inspiration” through weekly discussions, lectures, and networking events, as detailed on their site. They focus on career-related topics, providing advice on succeeding as a woman in the business world. Networking opportunities and talks with successful women are also highlights of the program.
“Our goal is to create a community where young women passionate about business can empower each other by offering professional opportunities and insights into their support systems. Navigating New York City can be daunting, but we strive to make it a supportive and successful space,” the club explained.
Additionally, they promote exclusive partnerships with well-known companies that provide career opportunities, including The New York Times, Chanel, and Marvel, among others.
All officers of the “Girl Boss” club are women.
Jacobson opined that Fordham’s own non-discrimination policies prohibit making educational access contingent on gender. He urged the university to abide by these principles and honor their commitments to their community.
This isn’t Fordham’s first run-in with controversy surrounding discrimination; a right-leaning legal advocacy group filed a similar complaint last year. They argued that the school’s race- and ethnicity-based scholarships favor Black and Latino students over white and Asian students, which they claim violates civil rights laws.
The Equal Protection Project has initiated legal actions against over 120 institutions, challenging more than 550 allegedly discriminatory programs and scholarships, which include New York University and Rutgers University.
“Sadly, many college campuses enable a culture that overlooks certain types of discrimination,” Jacobson noted.
In response to the discrimination inquiries against Fordham, the agency stated it wouldn’t confirm the complaints. As of now, there has been no immediate comment from Fordham University.
