The Equal Protection Project has filed a civil rights complaint against the University of Massachusetts Amherst, alleging that its SBS RISE program discriminates against white students by imposing stricter eligibility criteria. The program, which offers academic, professional, financial, and networking benefits, allegedly treats students differently based on race, color , and national origin. Non-white students are automatically eligible, while white students must show additional qualifications, such as being first-generation or low-income.

The $30 million toe in the water

The SBS RISE program, part of the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, is designed to provide suupport and resources to students who identify as first-generation, Black, Indigenous, or other Persons of Color (BIPOC) and/or low-income. However, the Equal Protection Project argues that the program's acceptance criteria violate several laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the 14th Amendment, Massachusetts state law, and the university's own rules.

Why 4,000 unsold units became the prize

The complaint highlights that the program's differing standards for white students are unlawful. according to the Equal Protection Project, the program's eligibility criteria create a two-tiered system that discriminates against white students. The orgnaization seeks the elimination of discrimination in the program, rather than its termination.

An echo of Sydney's 2024 institutional buy-up

This complaint comes at a time when affirmative action policies in higher education are under increased scrutiny. The Supreme Court's recent decision to strike down race-conscious admissions policies has led to a wave of similar complaints against universities across the country. The Equal Protection Project's complaint against UMass Amherst is part of a broader trend of legal challenges to affirmative action programs.

Who is the unnamed buyer?

The complaint raises several open questions, including how the university will respond to the allegations and whether the program will be modified to comply with anti-discrimination laws. It remains to be seen whether the university will defend the program's current structure or make changes to address the concerns raised by the Equal Protection Project.