University of Oklahoma students sue school over alleged racial bias in financial aid, claiming violation of equal protection clause. (Brian Bahr/Contributor)
The lawsuit names the university's president, Joseph Harroz, alongside chief enrollment officer Jeff Blahnik, director of financial aid services Courtney Henderson and student engagement director Dorion Billups as defendants.
The lawsuit comes after the Supreme Court held in a 2023 ruling that the use of race in admissions violated equal-protection rights, ending prior leniency toward such programs.
Black students receive more financial grants compared to other racial groups, based on the university's published enrollment data it reported to the Department of Education from 2009 to 2022, "even when controlling to the extent possible for factors such as family income," the lawsuit alleged.
"This statistical analysis provides evidence of the extent of discrimination stemming from affirmative action policies in university grants that benefit some favored group (in this case, black students) and harm other disfavored groups (in this case, nonblack students)," the lawsuit alleged.
Students allege discrimination on the basis of race at the University of Oklahoma. (Getty Images | iStock/ Dzmitry Dzemidovich)
Fox News' Digital reached out to the University of Oklahoma for comment and a spokesperson said "the practice of the university is not to comment on pending litigation."
Jamie Joseph is a writer who covers politics. She leads Fox News Digital coverage of the Senate.
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