I am a PhD student at a public university (I will be moving to another school next year) and I believe I have been discriminated. I contacted a council that serves our nation, and they ask me to either file with the civil rights, or to hire an attorney and lawsuit the university at a court, and in this case they might handle the attorney costs (or most of it).
I am kind of perplexed of which way to choose ? File with the civil rights, or go directly to the court ? I had many advices; one of them told me that it will be more effective and stronger case for you if you could make it to the court, especially if the civil rights did not accept to take it after reviewing it, so it will be a whole waist of time. Some told me that civil rights is better and shorter in time, and you don't need any attorneys. Others told me that you may get more compensation in the court than if you are filing with civil rights. I am confused, can any one give me a thorough advice here ? I am not a US citizen and I am not familiar with US rules and I don't know which path is shorter in time, and which is safer and more reliable ? I am in Michigan .
I hope to hear from you ladies and gentlemen. Thank you !

... file with the civil rights, or ...

What's that? You mean this (http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html)organization?

How exactly do you think you have been the victim of discrimination?

Yes that's what I meant. What advantage can I get if I file with them instead of going to the court directly ? Thank you

There are some courses that prepare students for their PhD examination, and all US students were attending these classes without registering. I asked the instructor to attend and listen one of these courses that I need without registering - since the registration period was over - but the instructor refused since I am not registering. As a consequence, I have failed on that exam because of this part of the course that I didn't attend. The same instructor was one of the members of this exam. Another student from the same race and country of mine told me that he asked the same instructor to attend the same class but did not allow him. Recently, I have known that the same instructor approved a US student to attend the class without registering to prepare from the same exam that I was preparing.

Can any one help me please ?

Please ? Why everybody is ignoring my post??

Please ? Why everybody is ignoring my post ???????

Probably for one of several reasons:

We don't know the answer;
We think the issue is too petty to trifle with - one instance of favoritism doesn't prove invidious discriminaton; or
Everybody is disturbed at the idea of a P.H.D. candidate who is incapable of doing his own Internet research, (and who can't spell "waste").

I see no bias on race or nationality, the other students perhaps don't ask, they just show up, you asked and the professor told you the actual rules.

Next you had a chance to attend, you needed to register and you failed to do what you were required to do

So I see no case and believe you are wasting your time and are being lead astray by race hate people who look for a chance to try to take money from a college who may settle instead of fighting.

Thank you for the info. Actually, the other students have asked the instructor and she welcomed them, but not me. Moreover, the instructor admitted that and didn't care. He is well known at your department for being very racist.
Now, my question was generally speaking, which is better, to file with the department of civil rights or go directly to the court. That was my main question. I did not ask about the grounding of my case. Hope to hear from you . Thank you !

Thank you AK lawyer. Actually, my question was just the advantage and comparison between going to the court directly or filing with the C.R. . You asked me about the circumstances and I answered. But the questions was generally speaking. Yes, my language is not that excellent and sometimes I do some stupid mistakes but that doesn't mean that I shouldn't speak with any English native speaker because of this. My English is improving everyday.

Thank you AK lawyer. Actually, my question was just the advantage and comparison between going to the court directly or filing with the C.R. . You asked me about the circumstances and i answered. But the questions was generally speaking. Yes, my language is not that excellent and sometimes i do some stupid mistakes but that doesn't mean that i shouldn't speak with any English native speaker because of this. My English is improving everyday.

You are right and I was wrong. I apologize for my third reason why you were not receiving an answer.

And yes, I understood that you were asking about the respective pros and cons of the two courses of action. But, as I said, perhaps the reason you were not being given an answer was because no one knew the answer. I don't know the answer either, but can guess that the C.R. outfit I linked to only tries to work out solutions (picking and choosing it's cases within budgetary constraints) and cannot force solutions as can a court of law. On the other hand, litigation in courts is expensive.