ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) — A Cornell leader is responding to a civil rights complaint.

The America First Institute filed a complaint with the Justice Department and Education Department, arguing the school hired people based on DEI guidelines over more qualified candidates. The College Fix reports the complaint cites two e-mails provided by an unidentified university whistleblower to support the claims.

Monica Yant Kinney, interim VP for university Relations, disputed the allegations. “The university strongly disputes the allegations in the America First Policy Institute complaint that references a number of outdated websites or programs that have not been in use for many years. Over the past year, the university has further enhanced its compliance with civil rights laws by engaging outside law firms to audit policy and practices to reflect changes in law or regulations, taking swift corrective action where necessary.”

Yant Kinney adds any complaint about bias should be brought to Cornell’s attention. “In thousands of hiring decisions in hundreds of departments and units, misunderstandings of policies can occur. If discrimination or bias is observed at any stage in any hiring process, it should be reported and will be corrected. The university does not tolerate unlawful discrimination in hiring or any other aspect of any university program or practice, and the university has taken and will continue to take prompt, effective, and appropriate action to respond to any and all allegations of any violation of law or the university’s equal opportunity and antidiscrimination policy.”

The 8-page complaint was filed on Thursday, June 26.