BUZZ
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating Arizona State University for alleged violations of federal law regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, following viral videos suggesting illegal discrimination based on race or nationality.
- The investigation will examine whether ASU's DEI policies in various areas, such as admissions and scholarships, result in unlawful discrimination, as federal law prohibits such practices and ASU receives federal funding.
- Watchdog group Accuracy in Media released undercover videos showing ASU faculty acknowledging that DEI practices continue at the university, despite claims of compliance with federal law, with some stating that only the language has changed while the practices remain the same.
The U.S. Department of Justice launched an investigation into diversity, equity, and inclusion practices at Arizona State University following the release of several videos indicating DEI remains at the school despite a federal ban.
The probe was prompted by recent viral videos indicating that “ASU denied equal treatment to students based on race, color, or national origin,” the Justice Department announced in a Wednesday news release.
“No student should be denied access to opportunities or resources because of race, color, or national origin,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said.
“The United States is committed to keeping universities free of unlawful discrimination — especially when they try to hide illegal conduct to avoid oversight and compliance,” she said.
The news release notes that federal law bans racial discrimination and ASU receives federal funds.
“The Division’s investigation will examine whether ASU subjects its students to illegal discrimination through its DEI policies in admissions, recruitment, scholarships, tutoring, and the provision of educational support,” the release states.
Over the last several months, watchdog group Accuracy in Media has released five undercover videos showing faculty admitting that they continue to engage in DEI practices at the school.
In the most recent video, Kayla Elizondo-Nunez, graduate program coordinator for ASU’s School of Social Transformation, told an investigative reporter, “We are DEI,” The College Fix previously reported.
“We do have a good community. There are lots of other progressive communities around … the Phoenix area,” she said.
In another video, enrollment coach Megan Neumann said the school is still “actively” incorporating DEI.
In addition, Associate Dean of Inclusive Design for Equity and Access Chandra Crudup was caught on video saying the school has changed its DEI language but is “still doing the same thing.”
Following the news of the federal investigation, AIM President Adan Guillette told Fox News the group went to “the departments that were previously called DEI” and to “staffers who previously had DEI positions.”
“What we found at Arizona State is they just got new business cards and changed their job title, and they laughingly told us about how they’re continuing to do the same work,” he said.
“Then we went to the colleges of education, sociology, criminology, because we often find bad actors there as well, and once again, consistently, we found people devoted to pushing the divisive radical ideas associated with diversity, equity, inclusion into every facet of education,” Guillette said.
Reached for comment on these videos, an ASU spokesperson previously told The Fix it “complies fully with federal law and does not discriminate in admissions or scholarship selections.”
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