PROVIDENCE, R.I.--Allegations that Brown University discriminates on the basis of race in granting financial aid were refuted a week ago when the United States Office for Civil Rights (OCR) cleared the University's financial aid office of any discriminatory policies.

In a letter to Howard Swearer, the president of Brown, the OCR stated that the financial aid program complies with the Civil Rights Act of 1964--which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin--and the Educational Amendments of 1972, which forbids discrimination by sex.

The OCR investigation found that minorities are more likely to receive financial aid than nonminorities, although they are more likely to receive loans than grants. The OCR also found "no politics or procedures which tended to discourage women from applying for financial aid."

At least two formal charges of discrimination were filed last year against the financial aid office. One student said he filed an internal grievance with the University, and sources claimed that a former financial aid officer filed complaints with municipal and federal agencies.

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