Elmhurst University Accused Of Discrimination In Lawsuit

ELMHURST, IL – A former Elmhurst University official has accused the school of discriminating against her because of her color and age.

In February, Elaine Blair, former director of academic advising, filed a civil rights lawsuit in federal court. She is African American and was 67 during the time in question.

A university spokesperson said Thursday the school could not comment on personnel matters or pending litigation. She said the university stands behind its employment policies and practices.

In its response to the court, the school denied the allegations.

According to the lawsuit, Blair, who started in September 2023, said she was promised an administrative assistant, just like her predecessor. But she did not get one.

About two weeks after being hired, a university official told Blair, "We're only giving you a year," which she understood to mean that she would be terminated regardless of her performance, the lawsuit said.

She said she would not have applied for the job if it were a one-year position.

The lawsuit said Blair specifically asked for training on the university's computer systems. When she finally got the training, it was directed toward the assistant director of academic advising, according to court records.

The assistant director was hired for that position around the same time and is white and at least 10 years younger than Blair, the lawsuit said.

Blair also alleged that the assistant director would work from home on consecutive days and that she would only learn of it from her supervisor. The university said Blair was kept informed.

Blair said she was twice told, "We are going to run you away from here."

She also said she performed her job well, never received complaints about her work performance and was never disciplined. The school denied that.

In September 2024, Blair was fired without cause or justification, according to the lawsuit. The assistant director took Blair's position three months later.

In its response, the university said the assistant director had worked in the school since 2019, yet it chose Blair as director.

Elmhurst University has long been proud of its diversity.

About half of its students are racial and ethnic minorities. Africans Americans make up 6.7 percent of the student body, higher than Elmhurst's 1.9 percent.

In 1966, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke to a standing-room-only crowd at the school's Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel, according to the university's website.