Faculty Support of George Mason’s President Draws Federal Investigation

[j brown's body]

"When the Department of Justice recently opened an investigation into George Mason University over accusations that the university’s diversity programs were discriminatory, many members of the faculty were outraged. Professors quickly published a resolution supporting their president and the university’s efforts around diversity. Now, Justice Department officials say they will investigate the faculty, too. In a letter sent on Friday, the Trump administration said it would seek drafts of the faculty resolution, all written communications among the Faculty Senate members who drafted the resolution, and all communications between those faculty members and the office of the university’s president, Gregory Washington.

Free speech advocates quickly denounced the move as an attack on academic freedom. The faculty resolution affirmed the university’s previous stance that “diversity is our strength.” It also defended Dr. Washington, the university’s first Black president, who has been a target of the Trump administration. Faculty senate resolutions are positions taken by a university’s elected faculty body, like the one at George Mason. They typically carry no force and normally attract little notice beyond the campus newspaper. But these are not normal times for higher education.

Harmeet Dhillon, who heads the Justice Department’s civil rights division, wrote a letter on Friday to Charles Stimson, the rector of the Board of Visitors, saying the agency would be looking into the faculty’s resolution. She said that the resolution commended Dr. Washington’s efforts “to ensure ‘faculty and staff demographics . . . mirror student demographics’ at GMU.” ...“This statement is concerning,” she added, “as it indicates the GMU Faculty Senate is praising President Washington for engaging in race- or sex-motivated hiring decisions to achieve specific demographic outcomes among faculty and staff.”"

Link

Express support for a policy the government doesn't like and lose your job.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Demanding racial quotas and discrimination is "academic freedom" now.

Wonder what the reaction would be if they all signed a resolution demanding the "wrong" kind of discrimination.

 

[j brown's body]

Demanding racial quotas and discrimination is "academic freedom" now.

Wonder what the reaction would be if they all signed a resolution demanding the "wrong" kind of discrimination.

Apparently just talking about it calls for a federal investigation.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Apparently just talking about it calls for a federal investigation.

If a large group of instructors at a university were calling for a "whiter" campus, would you be similarly critical of a DOJ investigation into their practices to look for discrimination?

I doubt it.

 

[Stealers Wheel]

If a large group of instructors at a university were calling for a "whiter" campus, would you be similarly critical of a DOJ investigation into their practices to look for discrimination?

I doubt it.

I absolutely would. This school is not a government entity.

Rather than driving attitudes underground, we want our academic institutions to be transparent in their attitudes. This is helpful when students and their parents are trying to decide where they should enroll.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

I absolutely would. This school is not a government entity.

GM, like most established universities, likely accepts federal funds, which would subject them to the jurisdiction of anti-discrimination laws.

Rather than driving attitudes underground, we want our academic institutions to be transparent in their attitudes. This is helpful when students and their parents are trying to decide where they should enroll.

I generally agree, but this is not the world in which we live.

 

[mrjurrs]

If a large group of instructors at a university were calling for a "whiter" campus, would you be similarly critical of a DOJ investigation into their practices to look for discrimination?

I doubt it.

Silly analogy. Since white is the dominant aspect of our culture, of course that would be worthy of a discrimination investigation.

 

[Stealers Wheel]

GM, like most established universities, likely accepts federal funds, which would subject them to the jurisdiction of anti-discrimination laws.


I generally agree, but this is not the world in which we live.

So it is preferable that universities learn they need to at least keep up the appearance of toeing the government line and keep their racist attitudes on the down low so not to risk losing government funds? Those funds are there to help students academically.

Trump: Do as you're told or we will punish your students.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Silly analogy. Since white is the dominant aspect of our culture, of course that would be worthy of a discrimination investigation.

So potential discrimination is only worthy of investigation if it benefits whites?

 

[Grizzly Adams]

So it is preferable that universities learn they need to at least keep up the appearance of toeing the government line and keep their racist attitudes on the down low so not to risk losing government funds?

It is preferable that the law be equaly aplied.

Those funds are there to help students academically.

This doesn't mean potential violations of the law ought to be ignored.

Trump: Do as you're told or we will punish your students.

That's just another way of saying "folow the law."

 

[The Brad Dad]

Demanding racial quotas and discrimination is "academic freedom" now.

Wonder what the reaction would be if they all signed a resolution demanding the "wrong" kind of discrimination.

But what the GOP wants is white supremacy. We don't have to imagine it.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

But what the GOP wants is white supremacy. We don't have to imagine it.

Non sequitur.

Thanks for playing. Better luck next time.

 

[The Brad Dad]

Non sequitur.

Thanks for playing. Better luck next time.

Your race card is DENIED. Try a different currency, sir.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Your race card is DENIED. Try a different currency, sir.

Keep trying. Maybe you'll get it right by blind luck one of these days.

 

[The Brad Dad]

Keep trying. Maybe you'll get it right by blind luck one of these days.

Thanks for playing!

 

[Pyrite]

"When the Department of Justice recently opened an investigation into George Mason University over accusations that the university’s diversity programs were discriminatory, many members of the faculty were outraged. Professors quickly published a resolution supporting their president and the university’s efforts around diversity. Now, Justice Department officials say they will investigate the faculty, too. In a letter sent on Friday, the Trump administration said it would seek drafts of the faculty resolution, all written communications among the Faculty Senate members who drafted the resolution, and all communications between those faculty members and the office of the university’s president, Gregory Washington.

Free speech advocates quickly denounced the move as an attack on academic freedom. The faculty resolution affirmed the university’s previous stance that “diversity is our strength.” It also defended Dr. Washington, the university’s first Black president, who has been a target of the Trump administration. Faculty senate resolutions are positions taken by a university’s elected faculty body, like the one at George Mason. They typically carry no force and normally attract little notice beyond the campus newspaper. But these are not normal times for higher education.

Harmeet Dhillon, who heads the Justice Department’s civil rights division, wrote a letter on Friday to Charles Stimson, the rector of the Board of Visitors, saying the agency would be looking into the faculty’s resolution. She said that the resolution commended Dr. Washington’s efforts “to ensure ‘faculty and staff demographics . . . mirror student demographics’ at GMU.” ...“This statement is concerning,” she added, “as it indicates the GMU Faculty Senate is praising President Washington for engaging in race- or sex-motivated hiring decisions to achieve specific demographic outcomes among faculty and staff.”"

Link

Express support for a policy the government doesn't like and lose your job.

Today's Republican Party is not about to tolerate dissent.

Attacking higher education - which seems to be a priority for this increasingly-authoritarian political party - is especially chilling.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Thanks for playing!

Strike three.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Today's Republican Party is not about to tolerate dissent.

Attacking higher education - which seems to be a priority for this increasingly-authoritarian political party - is especially chilling.

Investigating possible racial discrimination is now "attacking higher education."

 

[Pyrite]

Investigating possible racial discrimination is now "attacking higher education."

No, targeting dissenting opinion is attacking higher education.

Read the OP first, then comment. Or not. Your choice.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

No, targeting dissenting opinion is attacking higher education.

Read the OP first, then comment. Or not. Your choice.

I did read it. I stand by my statement.

 

[Pyrite]

I did read it. I stand by my statement.

Stand by your statement all you want - that's on you.

That trump is now targeting the faculty's dissenting opinion is obvious.

Now, Justice Department officials say they will investigate the faculty, too. In a letter sent on Friday, the Trump administration said it would seek drafts of the faculty resolution, all written communications among the Faculty Senate members who drafted the resolution, and all communications between those faculty members and the office of the university’s president, Gregory Washington.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Stand by your statement all you want - that's on you.

That trump is now targeting the faculty's dissenting opinion is obvious.

Now, Justice Department officials say they will investigate the faculty, too. In a letter sent on Friday, the Trump administration said it would seek drafts of the faculty resolution, all written communications among the Faculty Senate members who drafted the resolution, and all communications between those faculty members and the office of the university’s president, Gregory Washington.

Faculty's insistence that racially discriminatory actions be retained makes it reasonable to suspect the college is discriminating on the basis of race.

Sorry this upsets you.

 

[Pyrite]

Faculty's insistence that racially discriminatory actions be retained makes it reasonable to suspect the college is discriminating on the basis of race.

Sorry this upsets you.

Post #22

Quote the part of the OP that supports your claim that the faculty "insists that racially discriminatory actions be retained".

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Post #22

Quote the part of the OP that supports your claim that the faculty "insists that racially discriminatory actions be retained".

The part where the faculty signed on to a letter expressing support for racially discriminatory programs.

 

[Pyrite]

Faculty's insistence that racially discriminatory actions be retained makes it reasonable to suspect the college is discriminating on the basis of race.

Sorry this upsets you.

Post #22

Post #22

Quote the part of the OP that supports your claim that the faculty "insists that racially discriminatory actions be retained".

Post #23

The part where the faculty signed on to a letter expressing support for racially discriminatory programs.

Post #24

````````````````````````````

So, you cannot "quote the part of the OP that supports your claim the faculty 'insists that racially discriminatory actions re retained'."

No surprise.