Dothan, ALA – The University of Alabama is currently facing a civil lawsuit from a national organization accusing the university of racial discrimination in its scholarship practices. The Equal Protection Project, a group known for opposing race-based affirmative action policies, filed the lawsuit in response to the university’s Norton-Textra Endowed Scholarship, which is intended for African American students pursuing a degree in English.
The lawsuit, filed with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights last week, alleges that the scholarship discriminates against non-African American students. The group argues that the university’s preference for minority students in awarding the scholarship violates principles of equal protection under the law. However, as of April 26th, the university’s website for the scholarship only lists academic requirements such as enrollment and GPA, with no mention of race as a criterion.
The controversy surrounding the Norton-Textra Endowed Scholarship comes amid a broader national debate over race-based programs in higher education. This legal challenge is part of the Equal Protection Project’s ongoing efforts to push back against what it views as discriminatory affirmative action policies, which it claims favor minority students based on race.
The issue has also gained attention in other parts of Alabama. The Trump administration is reportedly reviewing race-based scholarships at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, scrutinizing the legality of similar programs. The review coincides with a recent wave of legislative action in Alabama, where state lawmakers have passed laws that ban Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs at public universities. In response to the new law, several universities in the state have already closed their DEI offices and buildings.
The University of Alabama has not yet issued a public statement regarding the lawsuit, and it remains unclear how the legal challenge will unfold. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications not only for the university but also for the future of race-based scholarships and affirmative action programs across the state and the nation.
As the debate over race-based policies in education intensifies, the University of Alabama’s scholarship program is poised to become a key example in the ongoing struggle over the role of race in college admissions and financial aid.
