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Little more than ‘virtue-signaling fluff,’ legal scholar says

Albion College’s Physics Department recently received a $200,000 grant to recruit more African American students in its robotics program, prompting concerns from one legal scholar about potential racial discrimination.

The academic group TEAM-UP Together Expanding eXpertise, Championing Excellence and Leadership awarded the grant to the Michigan college in December, according to a news release.

The money will be used to help “increase the number of African American students earning degrees in physics and astronomy,” the release states.

TEAM-UP is a “collective action initiative established by the American Association of Physics Teachers, American Astronomical Society, American Institute of Physics, American Physical Society, and Society of Physics Students.”

Its goal is “to drive systemic change in the physical sciences community and increase successful outcomes for Black and African American students pursuing physics and astronomy undergraduate degrees,” according to its website.

TEAM-UP works to create a more successful environment for African American students and to “double the number of African Americans earning bachelor’s degrees in physics and astronomy by 2030.”

According to the Albion news release, TEAM-UP leaders were impressed by its physics program “Belonging, Resilience, Retention, and Identity Through Robotics.”  The program specifically focuses on African American students studying physics and astronomy.

When contacted about the grant, Physics Department chair Professor Nicolle Zellner pointed to the news release and encouraged The College Fix to contact university spokesperson Melissa Anderson with questions.

However, Anderson did not respond to a follow up email, asking about concerns regarding the grant and racial discrimination.

Zellner stated in the release: “As noted in the Team-up Together documents, the lack of representation by African Americans in the field of physics is a national issue, and receipt of this grant will help to address this issue at the local level. Partnerships with Innovate Albion and Concord Middle School will enhance these efforts by building relationships with community partners.”

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Albion is a private college and the grant comes from a private organization.

However, that does not make it any less concerning, according to Cornell Law School Professor William Jacobson, founder of the Equal Protection Project. The legal organization works to defend civil rights and fair treatment of all persons without regard to race or ethnicity.

In an email to The Fix, Jacobson expressed concerns about the vagueness of the grant.

Unless it contains “specific parameters with which to measure success,” the project is little more than “virtue-signaling fluff,” he told The Fix.

“This vague language in the grant description aligns with the general approach seen in other diversity initiatives at Albion …” Jacobson said. “At this stage, we don’t know enough to say whether the vague language reflects non-discrimination or is meant to conceal discrimination.”

“Currently, Albion states that the grant will be used to focus on ‘the first two years of college programs centered around robotics,’ with the hope that this program will ‘help increase the number of African American students and create a model that can be implemented elsewhere,’” Jacobson stated.

“However, they do not provide specific details on how they intend to increase the enrollment or retention of African American students. Those details are critical to whether there is a legal problem,” he told The Fix.

Jacobson said the college “should be transparent in how these grant funds are used and whether there is discrimination taking place out of sight.”

The college’s DEI efforts go beyond the robotics program. Albion also is working to change the mindset of its faculty and administrators regarding minority groups.

In a recent article, the college highlighted sending faculty and administrators to workshops about “attracting minority applicants” in STEM fields. The training was paid for with federal taxpayer funding.

According to the article, attendees “reflect[ed] on the unique barriers and problems that the Albion College STEM departments face when it comes to retention and persistence of minority groups.”

Albion’s Office of Belonging also has a goal “to address systemic racism and create ways to share power.”

As African American success in college is important to Albion, The Fix asked Jacobson if he believes the college is pursuing it in the right manner, specifically regarding the TEAM-UP grant.

Jacobson responded, “I don’t think it’s fair to lump people together by identity group and skin color in order to measure success …

“What is important is that each individual is treated as an individual not merely as a proxy for an identity group. If each individual is treated fairly, then group performance really doesn’t matter as a matter of justice,” he said.

Ultimately, Jacobson said, “Discrimination cannot be part of the solution.”

MORE: Trump will issue guidance ensuring universities follow affirmative action ban

IMAGE: Albion College

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