US Department of Education alleges George Mason University violated Title VI News
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US Department of Education alleges George Mason University violated Title VI

The US Department of Education announced on Friday its determination that George Mason University (GMU) violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) alleged that the university illegally considered race, sex, and “other immutable characteristics” in hiring and promotion.

Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said:

In 2020, University President Gregory Washington called for expunging the so-called ‘racist vestiges’ from GMU’s campus … President Washington then waged a university-wide campaign to implement unlawful DEI policies that intentionally discriminate on the basis of race… The Trump-McMahon Department of Education will not allow racially exclusionary practices—which violate the Civil Rights Act, the Equal Protection Clause, and Supreme Court precedent—to continue corrupting our nation’s educational institutions.

The university’s Board of Visitors replied:

This is a serious matter. The Board is reviewing the specific resolution steps proposed by the Department of Education. We will continue to respond fully and cooperatively to all inquiries from the Department of Education, the Department of Justice and the U.S. House of Representatives and evaluate the evidence that comes to light. Our sole focus is our fiduciary duty to serve the best interests of the University and the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The Department of Education proposed a resolution agreement that would include, among other things, a review of policies and the removal of any provisions that consider race in hiring or promotion. A GMU employee would coordinate the university’s implementation of the agreement with OCR. The department also wants a personal apology from University President Gregory Washington.

The OCR began investigating the matter last month in response to complaints from multiple professors. The allegations include preferential hiring based on diversity and “a Task Force on Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence to make university policies which will ‘advance systemic and cultural anti-racism.”

The investigation demonstrates the Trump administration’s targeting of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs since his return to office in January. Last month, federal agencies launched civil rights investigations into Duke University, citing potential violations of anti-discrimination statutes, including Title VI. The agencies alleged that Duke used race-based criteria for practices, including journal selection, medical admissions, and hiring.

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