Case: United States v. Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University

4:06-cv-04037 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois

Filed Date: Feb. 8, 2006

Closed Date: 2008

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On February 8, 2006, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the Board of Trustees for Southern Illinois University (SIU) under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq. ("Title VII") in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. The Department of Justice asked the court for injunctive relief, alleging that the defendant had violated Title VII by discriminating against non-specified minorities on the basis of race and white males on the basis of race and gender.The plaintif…

On February 8, 2006, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the Board of Trustees for Southern Illinois University (SIU) under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq. ("Title VII") in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. The Department of Justice asked the court for injunctive relief, alleging that the defendant had violated Title VII by discriminating against non-specified minorities on the basis of race and white males on the basis of race and gender.

The plaintiffs alleged that the Proactive Recruitment of Multicultural Professionals for Tomorrow ("PROMPT"), the Bridge to the Doctorate ("BRIDGE"), and the Graduate Dean's fellowship programs were each only open to members of "underrepresented minority groups"--namely, Hispanics, African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, and Pacific Islanders as well as women. These discriminatory practices, they argued, amounted to employment discrimination against persons not members of those groups, on the basis of race, national origin, and/or sex.

The day after the lawsuit was filed, Judge J. Phil Gilbert approved and entered a consent decree whereby SIU agreed to hire, employ, compensate, provide terms, conditions and privileges of employment to, persons for any paid fellowship position without discriminating on the basis of race, national origin or sex. In addition, the SIU Board agreed to provide mandatory training to all academic recruiters and employees in recruiting activities regarding Title VII’s prohibitions against discrimination within 6 months. There were also additional records and reporting requirements in the consent decree. The consent decree was scheduled to dissolve at the end of two years from February 9, 2006.

On December 2, 2008, Judge Gilbert terminated this case pursuant to the consent decree. The case is now closed.

Summary Authors

Jane Wu (10/16/2007)

Sichun Liu (3/16/2019)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4764461/parties/united-states-v-board-of-trustees-for-southern-illinois-university/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Axel, Douglas A (Illinois)

Bellas, Leslie B (Illinois)

Benson, Thomas A (Illinois)

Birnbaum, Alan (Illinois)

Borodin, Marc (Illinois)

Attorney for Defendant

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

4:06-cv-04037

Docket [PACER]

United States v. Board of Trustees for Southern Illinois University

Dec. 2, 2008

Dec. 2, 2008

Docket
1-1

4:06-cv-04037

Complaint

Feb. 8, 2006

Feb. 8, 2006

Complaint
7

4:06-cv-04037

Consent Decree

United States of America v. The Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University

Feb. 9, 2006

Feb. 9, 2006

Settlement Agreement

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4764461/united-states-v-board-of-trustees-for-southern-illinois-university/

Last updated March 20, 2024, 3:14 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against Board of Trustees for Southern Illinois University, filed by USA. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(jep) (Entered: 02/08/2006)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

Feb. 8, 2006

Feb. 8, 2006

PACER
2

ORDER REASSIGNING CASE. Case reassigned to Judge J. Phil Gilbert for all further proceedings. Judge James L. Foreman no longer assigned to case. Signed by Judge James L. Foreman on March 9, 2006. (vlm, ) (Entered: 02/09/2006)

Feb. 9, 2006

Feb. 9, 2006

PACER
3

NOTICE of Appearance by Mark A. Brittingham on behalf of all defendants (Brittingham, Mark) (Entered: 02/09/2006)

Feb. 9, 2006

Feb. 9, 2006

PACER
4

STRICKEN PER DOCUMENT 6 --CONSENT DECREE. This Consent Decree shall dissolve, and this action shall be dismissed, at the end of two (2) years from the date of entry of this Decree without any further order of this Court. Signed by Judge J. Phil Gilbert on 2/9/06. (dka, ) Modified on 2/9/2006 (djs, ). (Entered: 02/09/2006)

Feb. 9, 2006

Feb. 9, 2006

RECAP
5

NOTICE of Appearance by Laura J. Jones on behalf of USA (Jones, Laura) (Entered: 02/09/2006)

Feb. 9, 2006

Feb. 9, 2006

PACER
6

NOTICE STRIKING ELECTRONICALLY FILED DOCUMENT 4 Consent Decree. See attached document for specifics (djs) (Entered: 02/09/2006)

Feb. 9, 2006

Feb. 9, 2006

RECAP
7

CONSENT DECREE. This Consent Decree shall dissolve, and this action shall be dismissed, at the end of two (2) years from the date of entry of this Decree without any further order of this Court. Signed by Judge J. Phil Gilbert on 2/9/06.(djs) (Entered: 02/09/2006)

Feb. 9, 2006

Feb. 9, 2006

RECAP
8

NOTICE of Appearance by Kristofor J. Hammond on behalf of USA (Hammond, Kristofor) (Entered: 02/09/2006)

Feb. 9, 2006

Feb. 9, 2006

PACER
9

ORDER directing Clerk of Court to statistically terminate this case. Signed by Judge J. Phil Gilbert on 12/2/08. (dka, ) (Entered: 12/02/2008)

Dec. 2, 2008

Dec. 2, 2008

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Illinois

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Feb. 8, 2006

Closing Date: 2008

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

United States of America on behalf of Southern Illinois University students who are neither female nor from traditionally underrepresented groups

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Illinois (Carbondale), State

Defendant Type(s):

College/University

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 2006 - 2008

Content of Injunction:

Hire

Provide antidiscrimination training

Reporting

Recordkeeping

Goals (e.g., for hiring, admissions)

Training

Issues

General:

Pattern or Practice

Discrimination-area:

Hiring

Discrimination-basis:

Race discrimination

Sex discrimination

Race:

White

Affected Sex or Gender:

Male