The Sconi

The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) has filed a federal Title VI complaint against Northwestern University on behalf of the Young America’s Foundation, citing the University's actions to appease anti-Israel protestors on campus. WILL Deputy Counsel, Dan Lennington, emphasized the legal implications, stating, “Our message to Northwestern University and any other university is simple: if you do this, we will take legal action."

Vic Bernson, Vice President and General Counsel for YAF, expressed strong opposition to the University's actions, calling it "completely pathetic" and criticizing the approach of appeasement. Bernson stated, “Appease awful people making awful demands, and they’ll always respond by demanding even more. This is pure cowardice and lunacy, and YAF will fight back with every fiber of our being.”

The complaint documents Northwestern University's plan to allocate substantial resources, including scholarship funds, faculty positions, and student-organization space, to Palestinian students and staff. The University officials involved in the agreement with anti-Israel demonstrators included President Michael Schill, Provost Kathleen Hagerty, and Vice President Susan Davis. The agreement promised significant support for Palestinian undergraduates, Palestinian faculty positions, and immediate temporary space for MENA/Muslim students.

The legal grounds for the complaint are based on Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, color, or national origin. By providing specific benefits based on Palestinian or MENA status, the University is accused of intentional discrimination against non-Palestinian or non-MENA individuals. WILL argues that such actions go against federal law and recent Supreme Court rulings on discrimination.

WILL's Equality Under the Law Project has a track record of representing clients in similar cases across multiple states. The project has already achieved legal victories and continues to pursue cases related to discrimination. More information about WILL's work can be found at will-law.org/equality.