A plaintiff backed by the America First Policy Institute filed suit accusing Cornell University of violating Title VII by creating an interview list restricted to “underrepresented minority scholars” and failing to publicly post a faculty vacancy. The complaint claims Cornell intentionally excluded white candidates and seeks class status for scholars affected since 2020. The suit is part of a wave of legal challenges targeting diversity, equity and inclusion practices on campuses and follows other federal and private claims that question race‑conscious hiring. Cornell declined comment; employment lawyers advise institutions to audit DEI procedures for Title VII compliance to reduce litigation risk.