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Woman Sues USM for Racial Prejudice

A Wisconsin woman has sued the University of Southern Mississippi, alleging that racial discrimination there has prevented her from graduating with a master's degree. Maria Salcido, who is Hispanic, was in the marriage and family therapy master's program at Southern Miss until 2009, when her complaint said she had to move back to Wisconsin. Much of Salcido's complaint focuses on "practicum" or "externship" hours required for her master's degree. The only thing between Salcido and graduation is 500 externship hours. The complaint, which represents only one side of the issue, accuses educators of failing to provide Salcido with an externship based on her race, as well as assigning fewer clients to her, resulting in insufficient externship hours. Salcido is seeking compensatory, actual and punitive damages in an amount to be determined by a jury, as well as injunctive relief to provide her a "reasonable opportunity" to complete her master's degree. Click here to read more.
 
 



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