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Tulane University's Newcomb College Institute under federal investigation over women's programs

Newcomb College Institute is under investigation by the civil rights division of the Education Department over a claim that the school is discriminatory towards men.

Do women's programs discriminate against men? The U.S. Department of Education is investigating Tulane's Newcomb College Institute programs over a claim that they do.

Newcomb College was originally founded as the first degree-granting coordinate college for women in the United States. Monday Newcomb College Institute stands in its place as an academic center dedicated towards women's leadership. And it's under investigation by the civil rights division of the Education Department, over a claim that the school is discriminatory towards men.

Executive Director for Tulane University Public Relations, Michael Strecker, said the programs being investigated are those within Newcomb College Institute marked only toward women, including study abroad programs in Africa, grant funding for students to conduct research on women's issues, travel money for students to attend conferences and Newcomb Scholars, a four-year program which selects 20 students who receive training in research methods.

A federal complaint was filed against several universities, including Tulane, over an allegation the schools gender programs violate Title 9, a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination at schools who receive federal funding.

"As a man I don't think I've ever felt discriminated against on the basis of that," Tulane student Jordan Mann said.

News of the investigation has traveled across Tulane's campus.

"Most people here at Tulane recognize that it's ridiculous," student Ilana Baker said.

Some students were angered.

"The whole Newcomb department is put into place because of all of the historical disadvantages women have faced and to try to work to solve those problems is not discriminatory towards men who have always had those opportunities that women haven't," Baker said.

Others were confused.

"The claim that men are being discriminated against in the program is pretty unlikely and far off from any experience I've ever had here or anyone I've ever talked to," Mann said.

Some think maybe there's something to the allegations.

"I guess if people are raising complaints about it maybe it's warranted, I guess an investigation can't hurt," student Stephen Reynolds said.

Others say the history of women's studies programs should be enough to prove these claims are false.

"What they consider to be this reverse discrimination is actually just efforts to combat the discrimination that is present in the first place," student Caroline Slagle said

Now, the issue is in the hands of the education department.

Tulane released the following statement:

"Tulane University recently received notice that a complaint had been filed with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), a sub-agency of the U.S. Department of Education, alleging that Newcomb College Institute (NCI) discriminates against men. NCI is working with the OCR to ensure compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. NCI is evaluating opening participation in its programs to all Tulane students as part of its mission of educating undergraduates for women’s leadership. In cases where funding was given to NCI with specific gender restrictions, the institute will honor those restrictions to the extent allowed by law. Tulane’s commitment to NCI, one of its premier academic centers serving undergraduates, remains steadfast."

Lauren Bale can be reached at lbale@wwltv.com.

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