The College Fix

Feds want evidence Princeton used in its determination that university is racist

On September 2, Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber declared in an open letter to the campus community that racism is very much still embedded in the Ivy League institution.

In response, the Education Department has launched an investigation into the matter.

The Washington Examiner reports the department is concerned the admission “raises concerns that Princeton has been receiving tens of millions of dollars of federal funds in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which declares that ‘no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.'”

The Examiner reports:

Now, the Education Department has sent a formal records request as they pursue their investigation. Their main point of contention is whether Princeton has lied to the public with their marketing and to the Department in their promise to not uphold racist standards in accordance with receiving federal funds.

… What the Department seeks to obtain from its investigation is what evidence Princeton used in its determination that the university is racist, including all the records regarding Eisgruber’s letter and a “spreadsheet identifying each person who has, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, been excluded from participation in, been denied the benefits of, or been subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance as a result of the Princeton racism or ‘damage’ referenced in the President’s Letter.” Eisgruber and a “designated corporate representative” must sit for interviews under oath, and Princeton must also respond to written questions regarding the matter.

According to Eisgruber’s memo, “Racism and the damage it does to people of color nevertheless persist at Princeton as in our society, sometimes by conscious intention but more often through unexamined assumptions and stereotypes, ignorance or insensitivity, and the systemic legacy of past decisions and policies.”

“…Racist assumptions from the past also remain embedded in structures of the University itself.”

Reaction to the news has several center-right higher education observers pointing out that Eisgruber will regret his words, seen by some as pandering to progressive, far-left narratives and causes but lacking proof and substance.

Now that the US Dept of Ed is investigating Princeton after its president admits widespread and longstanding racism there, any bets that such solemn confessions by college presidents will no longer be forthcoming?

— Mark Bauerlein (@mark_bauerlein) September 17, 2020

Princeton: Take our confessions of systematic institutional racism seriously but not literally.

— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) September 17, 2020

Princeton’s obvious next step is to assert to the federal government that it isn’t racist while reassuring students and faculty that it is.

— Kyle Smith (@rkylesmith) September 17, 2020

This is absolutely delicious. https://t.co/16XvONd4oW

— Bari Weiss (@bariweiss) September 17, 2020

MORE: Princeton faculty accuse school of rampant ‘anti-blackness’

MORE: Princeton Black Leadership makes demands based on anonymous tales of racism

IMAGE: A Katz / Shutterstock

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