CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, Ill. - A bus company that serves the University of Illinois is now under investigation by the state's Attorney General.
In an email advertisement sent to promote rides during the month of December, the Suburban Express company says perks of booking with them include fuzzy slippers, refundable tickets, and “passengers like you.”
Unless you’re Asian.
“You won't feel like you're in China when you're on our buses," the ad continues.
The email struck a nerve in the community built around a university of nearly 15% Asian students. (The University of Missouri reports 2.4%, for comparison.)
"I am concerned that this advertisement may reflect that Suburban Express is discriminating against potential customers," Attorney General Lisa Madigan said in a statement. "Under the law, access to transportation must not be impacted or based on a person's race or national origin. My office is investigating to determine whether Suburban Express' policies and practices violate the law."
The company's apology, to many, was not much better.
In a post to their website, the company writes: “The remark is being interpreted as a slap in the face of all non-caucasians [sic] for some reason, and that it now it [sic was intended.”
“We must concede that we disagree with the way the University of Illinois is being run. U of I is a state school that is funded by taxpayers and is built on land granted by the people of the State of Illinois,” the statement goes on to say. It continues to state: “Nearly 20% of U of I students are natives of China”—which is false—“and this high percentage of nonnative english [sic] speakers places a variety of burdens on domestic students.”
The apology concludes: “In any event, we did not intent to offend half the planet.”
Further explanations on the company’s website describe a history with a student who they claim unfairly complained about the company and in turn pulled international student business away.
Another apology was posted to Facebook after Madigan's office announced the investigation.
“There is no benefit, by any measure, to excluding any demographic and we apologize for this indefensible statement,” it reads. “Further, the emailed apology which followed was also harmful insofar as it tried to excuse a wrongfully nationalist statement. The sarcastic tone and disagreement with the University of Illinois' inclusive practices are just as offensive and wrong and we apologize with great shame.”
However, the University of Illinois continues to condemn the company.
“[Suburban Express] distributed an advertising message that once again demonstrated the company’s disregard and disdain towards the values of inclusivity that define our university,” reads a statement attributed to the school’s Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Director of International Student and Scholar Services, and Vice Provost for International Affairs and Global Strategies.
“We cannot prevent a private company from operating in our community. But we can, loudly and unambiguously, say that the opinions expressed by Suburban Express are offensive, bigoted, insulting and in direct opposition to the values of this university. And we would encourage any potential future customers of this transport company to carefully investigate its record and customer concerns before using its services,” the statement concludes.
The University also references the company’s “long history” of issues with passengers. A spokesperson in the Attorney General’s office tells 5 On Your Side they have looked into dozens of consumer complaints, a majority of which happened in 2016, alleging unfair ticket policies. The company sued students over the complaints, suits that were later dropped.
Suburban Express has until early January to submit required documents to the Attorney General's Civil Rights bureau or face potential consequences in court.
Reporters with 5 on Your Side reached out to Suburban Express and the company never returned the calls.
