WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch A Political Brawl Over DEI at Virginia's Public Universities
Sep 3, 2025
Political tensions are heating up in Virginia's public universities as Democrats try to oust Governor Glenn Youngkin's appointees. The sparring centers on George Mason University's hiring practices, with accusations of unlawful bias and looming legal battles. Supporters of the university's diversity initiatives clash with critics, raising questions about identity politics and leadership accountability. Amidst this chaos, the looming threat of gubernatorial elections complicates the already volatile governance landscape, as both parties jostle for control and influence.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Explicit Diversity Goal Creates Legal Risk
- George Mason's president explicitly advocated preferring minority candidates when both clear hiring thresholds, raising legal risks.
- The Education Department found such language could violate Title VI if it became policy in hiring and promotion.
Specificity Makes The Case Stronger
- Specific preferential rules that compare two named applicants create clear, individuated discrimination concerns.
- Such specificity makes George Mason more vulnerable than schools that broadly seek diverse applicant pools.
Audit Hiring Policies For Legal Compliance
- Review and purge any hiring documents that require or encourage race-based preferences to comply with Civil Rights law.
- Implement clear, race-neutral hiring criteria and document decisions to reduce federal risk.