(Des Moines) The Iowa Supreme court ruled that the University of Iowa may not repurpose the Ezra L. Totton Scholarship so first-generation students may use it.
Ezra Totton was a Black student at IU, and donated money for this scholarship before his death in 1997. The chemistry professor and civil rights activist wished for the scholarship to go to Black students studying physical science.
UI felt that after the US Supreme Court’s Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. Harvard, it should be able to redistribute private donations like Dr. Totton’s. However, since the fund is private, only the court can change who the recipients are.
Totton’s family and colleagues spoke out after the decision, saying they are thankful that the State chose to preserve his wishes. The case will return to district court to determine how the funds will be handled.
