Christopher F. Rufo, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, shares his journey from left-leaning beliefs to conservative activism. He discusses his successful campaigns against diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, arguing they serve elite interests. Rufo dives into race and admissions, advocating for colorblind standards while recognizing race's social context. He reflects on high-profile controversies, including Claudine Gay's resignation, and reveals his influence on government policies aimed at reshaping higher education.
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From Leftist Student To Activist Filmmaker
Christopher Rufo recounts moving from left-wing views at Georgetown to the political center and eventually right-wing activism after real-world experiences.
His documentary work in poor U.S. communities shaped his skepticism of elite university orthodoxies.
insights INSIGHT
DEI Rollbacks Are Partial Wins
Rufo celebrates universities abandoning DEI but warns it's only a partial, immediate win.
He argues DEI never helped the poorest communities he saw while filming in places like Memphis.
insights INSIGHT
DEI As Institutional Self‑Service
Rufo says elite DEI efforts were self-serving, prioritizing internal hires and bureaucracy over uplifting poor communities.
He views this corruption as turning a noble cause into institutional fraud and status-seeking.
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Christopher F. Rufo, a conservative activist, is on what he might call a winning streak. Long before it was fashionable to do so, Rufo, a senior fellow at the right-leaning Manhattan Institute, was leading the charge against diversity, equity, and inclusion programs on college campuses. Now, many universities — by law or by choice — are ditching DEI programs as fast as they can. Beyond that, Rufo has waged numerous online pressure campaigns against college leaders, leading to the resignations or scuttled appointments of those who’ve extolled the virtues of DEI. His airing of plagiarism allegations against Claudine Gay, the former president of Harvard University, contributed to her leadership downfall in 2024. But what is really behind Rufo’s philosophy? What would the “colorblind equality” he prescribes for colleges actually look like in practice? And how far does he think President Trump should go to upend higher education?
00:00 - 7:40: Rufo’s path to conservatism 7:40 - 14:51: Politics of DEI 14:51 - 19:48 : Race and admissions 20:03 - 24:51: ‘Meritocracy’ 24:51 - 31:02: Do you think race matters? 31:01 - 32:58: The Manhattan Institute 32:58 - 35:25: Harvard’s Claudine Gay 35:25 - 46:26: Sinking Santa Ono at U. of Florida 46:26 - 50:32: Rufo’s influence / George Mason U. 50:32 - 53:19: Calling in the troops
College Matters from The Chronicle 