Judge Rules Conservative Prof’s Lawsuit Against Arizona State’s DEI Training May Proceed
As we have repeatedly pointed out, DEI policies are on their way out.
The College Fix reports:
Conservative professor’s lawsuit against ASU’s DEI training may proceed, judge rulesA conservative professor’s lawsuit challenging Arizona State University’s “Inclusive Communities” faculty training may proceed, a judge recently ruled, prompting campus leaders to now seek relief from the state’s court of appeals in an attempt to dismiss the case.Owen Anderson, an outspoken Christian conservative professor at ASU, filed the lawsuit last spring, alleging the university’s mandatory diversity, equity and inclusion training for faculty violates a 2022 state law that forbids public agencies from requiring employees to engage in training “that presents any form of blame or judgment on the basis of race, ethnicity or sex.”In response, the Arizona Board of Regents argued in court documents the training is not mandatory and does not assign blame on white males, however Anderson has screenshots that show the training is billed as mandatory, with concepts such as white privilege and white supremacy included.ASU’s media relations division did not respond to repeated requests from The College Fix.In a court filing obtained by The College Fix, the university argues the training does not run afoul of the law, that “employees are encouraged to discuss and openly question the concepts and ideas contained within” and are allowed to disagree with them.Campus leaders also claim the training is not mandatory, arguing it is a “request” and “ASU has not disciplined any faculty, staff, or other employee (including Anderson) for failing to view or complete any aspect of the Inclusive Communities training.”ASU’s defense led to a loss in its bid to have the case tossed out. In late December, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Melissa Julian denied a motion to dismiss the case, the Phoenix New Times reported.Stacy Skankey, an attorney for the Goldwater Institute, which represents Anderson, told The College Fix that the “court’s decision rejecting ASU’s attempt to dismiss the case affirms the importance of holding public institutions accountable for policies that violate constitutional rights.”
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