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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 102


 
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    WHEREAS, In November of 2005, the U.S. Department of 
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Justice notified Southern Illinois University (SIU) that it 
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intended to file a lawsuit against the university related to 
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three of the university's fellowship programs, specifically, 
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the PROMPT, BRIDGE, and GRADUATE DEANS programs; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The U.S. Department of Justice has alleged that 
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SIU is in violation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act 
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in its administration of these programs; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Today, African Americans and Hispanic-Latinos are 
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underrepresented in all graduate programs; the subject matter 
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programs at issue have provided access to graduate programs for 
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approximately 85 minority students; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The U.S. Department of Justice and SIU have 
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negotiated a Consent Decree that protects the students 
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currently enrolled in these programs; in addition, the Consent 
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Decree avoids the cost of protracted litigation, with no 
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penalties or fines assessed against SIU, and amends the 
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eligibility requirements of three SIU-C paid fellowship 
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programs; the Consent Decree also allows SIU to avoid potential 
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legal exposure and financial penalty; and

 
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    WHEREAS,  The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus,  the 
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Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus, and the entire General 
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Assembly desire to be updated, annually, on SIU's progress in 
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minority participation in its fellowship programs; both 
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Caucuses have met with the President of SIU and have expressed 
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their grave concerns related to the inclusion of African 
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American and Hispanic-Latino students in the university's 
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fellowship programs, as well as other facets of the university; 
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and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, the 
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Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus, and the entire General 
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Assembly have  indicated their desire to stay informed of the 
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events surrounding the investigations conducted by the U.S. 
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Department of Justice and the progress that SIU is making in 
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increasing the number of African American and Hispanic-Latino 
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students in both fellowship and graduate assistance programs; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
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SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that Southern Illinois University 
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provide, on an annual basis, an update on minority 
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participation in all fellowship and graduate assistance 
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programs at SIU to the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus,  the 
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Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus, and the entire General 
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Assembly; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That the President and the Board of Trustees of 
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Southern Illinois University take the necessary steps to ensure 
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that African Americans and Hispanic-Latinos are provided 
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access to and are allowed to compete in all fellowship and 
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graduate assistance programs; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That the President and the Board of Trustees of 
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Southern Illinois University take the necessary steps to ensure 
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that the university establishes and maintains an environment 
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that is conducive to the successful completion of these 
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programs as well as supports the efforts of African American 
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and Hispanic-Latino students in the same or similar manner as 
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it supports all other students; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
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delivered to the President of Southern Illinois University and 
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the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University.