CEO welcomes newest members to the team

Center for Equal OpportunityKeeping Up with CEO

Anthony Pericolo is CEO’s first Visiting Legal Fellow. He was also a fellow in CEO’s inaugural 2022 Civil Rights Fellowship. Anthony is a 2023 graduate of Harvard Law School and a patent litigator in Washington, D.C. Before law school, Anthony earned dual degrees in economics and electrical and computer engineering from the University of Rochester. Besides his appreciation for intellectual property law, Anthony is passionate about civil rights work. He grew up in Westfield, New Jersey, and is the son of Italian immigrants. He learned the value of hard work and equal opportunity through his family, who came to the …

Higher Ed & DEI

Center for Equal OpportunityUncategorized

In recent years, American organizations of all kinds have dedicated resources towards diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. These initiatives have become a staple of policy, hiring practices, personnel training, organizational structure, and more. Educational institutions, and higher education in particular, have shown a commitment to DEI. Do DEI practices in colleges and universities result in a better product for students? Do they improve campus communities? Some argue that, yes, DEI is integral to a high-functioning university. These practices improve viewpoint diversity, make students feel more at home on their campuses, and help marginalized groups attain a quality education. Others …

Affirmative Action in COVID Treatments

Center for Equal OpportunityRacial Preferences

CEO is the lead organization in a brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take up an appeal to a Second Circuit decision in a controversial New York Covid treatment program that excluded non-minority patients from receiving antiviral treatments. Facing a severe shortage of Covid treatments in the early days of the pandemic, the state of New York and New York City issued directives instructing medical providers to prioritize treatments to individuals on the basis of race. CEO’s brief argues that the race-based distribution of antiviral treatments is plainly unconstitutional. CEO filed the brief in support of petitioners represented by …

Anti-Asian Discrimination in College Admissions

Center for Equal OpportunityEducation

On Tuesday, March 28, at 2:00 pm ET, CEO President Devon Westhill will take part in the National Association of Scholars webinar “Anti-Asian Discrimination in College Admissions.”  From the NAS press release: “Every ‘plus’ on one student’s college application translates to a ‘minus’ on another student’s application. In the process of boosting the applications of so-called ‘underrepresented minorities,’ admissions offices routinely penalize Asian-American applicants, dismissing their diligence and hard work as a ‘lack of personality.’ How did the widespread discrimination against Asian-American students arise in American higher education? Why has the plight of these minority students been so disregarded by …

Devon Westhill testifies before U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

Center for Equal OpportunityRacial Preferences

Center for Equal Opportunity President Devon Westhill will testify before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights this Friday, March 24th on the federal government’s response to anti-Asian racism in the United States. The Commission is examining the federal government’s role in documenting, prosecuting, and preventing hate crimes against Asian-Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. From the USCCR’s press release: “The investigation will also include background and historical perspectives of Asian immigration in the U.S.; anti-Asian immigration laws and changes to immigration laws for persons of Asian descent; and misperceptions and stereotypes of Asian immigrants and Asian Americans.” Mr. Westhill will join …

2023 CEO Civil Rights Fellowship Begins Accepting Applications

Center for Equal OpportunityAbout CEOUSA

It is with great joy that the Center for Equal Opportunity (CEO) announces and begins accepting applications today for its 2023 Civil Rights Fellowship. The program, which will take place between August 7-11, 2023 is intended for law students with an interest in a career in a public, private, or nonprofit setting where their instruction and training can be shared with the public, the courts, and/or through policy development. LEARN MORE Related posts: TESTIMONY OF ROGER CLEGG, PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL, CENTER FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY BEFORE THE U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS REGARDING THE PROPOSED EMPLOYMENT NON-DISCRIMINATION ACT CEO Launches Inaugural …

California’s Sorry-for-Slavery Sweepstakes Now Has a Jackpot of $223,200

Center for Equal OpportunityReparations, Uncategorized

This article originally appeared on Newsweek.com by Anthony Pericolo Pretty soon, Californians may log into Ancestry.com to see if they won a prize of $223,200. A new bill signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom is seeking ways to pay out reparations for slavery to Americans descended from slaves. But even if you’re white, you should check Ancestry.com to see if you are a descendant of American slaves; “experts” have expressed “concern” that “the current language of the eligibility criteria might open the door for individuals identifying as white… if they prove descendence.” This absurd situation came about after the murder of George Floyd …

Devon Westhill Testifies Before Senate

Center for Equal OpportunityRacial Preferences

On Thursday, December 1, CEO president and general counsel Devon Westhill will testify before the U.S. Senate committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. The hearing is titled: Fairness in Financial Services: Racism and Discrimination in Banking Mr. Westhill’s testimony will focus on the problems associated with using disparate impact analysis to uncover discrimination. Tune in at 10:00 a.m. eastern standard time. The hearing will be broadcast live here. Related posts: TESTIMONY OF ROGER CLEGG, PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL, CENTER FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY BEFORE THE U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS REGARDING THE PROPOSED EMPLOYMENT NON-DISCRIMINATION ACT Devon Westhill testifies before Congress The …

Courthouse Steps Oral Argument: SFFA vs. UNC & Harvard

Center for Equal OpportunityEducation

On October 31, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College. In perhaps the most anticipated case of this term, the court considers a challenge to the use of racially preferential undergraduate student admissions practices at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. Experts broke down the oral argument on the same day, October 31, 2022. Featuring: Prof. Amanda Shanor, Assistant Professor of Legal Studies & Business Ethics, The Wharton School Devon Westhill, President and General Counsel, Center for Equal Opportunity Moderator: Curt Levey, President, Committee for Justice …