Ex-Administrator Files Discrimination Suit against Illinois University

A former administrator at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that he was fired because of his race.

Ronald Banks, who is black, was assistant to the dean of engineering from 1994 to 2007. His position was eliminated, and he was let go.

His suit says he wasn’t given the option to be reassigned within the university, unlike “white and younger employees” in a similar situation.

In a statement, the university said it’s confident that it will successfully defend itself against Banks’ suit.

The university says Banks’ allegations were dismissed by the Illinois Department of Human Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for insufficient evidence.