WASHINGTON (Reuters) — US President Donald Trump’s administration targeted more universities on Thursday over issues like race and diversity in admissions and anti-Israel protests, marking the federal government’s latest crackdown against American schools.
The US Justice Department alleged admissions practices at Duke University School of Law were biased in favor of Black and Hispanic applicants, citing findings of a federal probe.
The DOJ alleged the law school “emphasized racial diversity in admissions” and that “a Black or Hispanic applicant has a substantially higher likelihood of admission to Duke Law than a white or Asian applicant with the same academic credentials.”
The DOJ said it sought a voluntary resolution agreement.
“Duke is committed to complying with the law and will continue to do so in a manner that is consistent with our academic mission,” the university said, adding it was reviewing a DOJ letter.
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The DOJ alleged the same this year about admissions practices in medical schools at the University of California and Yale. The schools said their practices were rooted in merit.
Students walk by graffiti near university president Richard Saller’s office at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, June 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
Trump, who casts diversity goals as anti-merit and discriminatory against white people and men, has signed orders to dismantle them. Rights advocates say diversity practices address historic inequities for marginalized groups.
The US Supreme Court rejected affirmative action at colleges in 2023 when it struck down race-conscious admissions programs at Harvard and the University of North Carolina.
Separately, the Education Department said it was probing California’s San Jose State University and San Francisco State University over anti-Israel protests.
The department said it received complaints about the universities that alleged failure to respond to antisemitism accusations on campuses. It noted reports of hostility towards Jewish students, displays of “antisemitic graffiti” and anti-Israel protests that it said disrupted classes.
Both universities have condemned discrimination, including antisemitism and Islamophobia, and say they treat discriminatory concerns seriously. They said they will respond to the department through its investigative process.
San Jose State University said a quote attributed in the Education Department’s press release to a former university administrator – making a distinction between “good Jews” and “bad Jews” based on support for Israel’s government – was “never made by any representative of the university.”
Screenshot from a pro-Palestinian protest against Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat at San Francisco State University on April 7, 2016. (Screen capture/Youtube)
Trump’s administration alleges anti-Israel protesters are antisemitic and support extremists.
Protesters say the government wrongly labels criticism of the Hamas-sparked war in Gaza and Israel’s policies against the Palestinians as support for extremism.
Trump has targeted universities with probes and funding suspension threats over anti-Israel protests, diversity initiatives, transgender policies and climate programs, leading to free speech, due process and academic freedom concerns.
On Monday, Education Secretary Linda McMahon called on universities to commit to reforms by the end of 2026. The National Education Association, the largest US teachers’ union, urged universities to reject her call.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
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