Two Universities Hit with Civil Rights Complaint for Allegedly Continuing Illegal DEI

by Jaryn Crouson

 

Protect the Public’s Trust (PPT) filed a civil rights complaint against the University of Iowa (UIowa) and Iowa State University (ISU) on Thursday after videos surfaced of administrators at both schools claiming to have found ways to skirt anti-diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) laws.

Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds in May signed a law prohibiting the use of state funds for DEI offices and staff for public entities, including K-12 schools and higher education institutions, building on the executive order signed by President Donald Trump in January. The complaint, filed with the Department of Education (ED), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) and obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation, alleges the Iowa Board of Regents has delayed implementing the new guidance and urges the federal government to investigate its compliance with the law.

“I write to you to alert you of an effort by officials from Iowa Board of Regents’ member schools, Iowa State University (ISU) and University of Iowa (Iowa), to continue their practice of imposing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) on their students, despite perceived efforts to end that practice,” the complaint reads. “[T]he evidence indicates that there is a pattern at Iowa Board of Regents schools to continue the status quo of imposing DEI values while creating an outward appearance of compliance, and that this behavior and associated attitude extend far beyond just a few individuals.”

A UIowa employee was recently caught on video admitting the school had “a strategy” to continue its DEI agenda, according to an undercover video recorded by Accuracy in Media (AIM).

“Our president said it’s important to us but we just need to reimagine it a certain way and abide by the rules and the law,” Cassandra Gordon-Fletcher, a senior director in the Office of Access and Support, said in the video. “It’s not going away, we’re just reimagining how we’re doing it.”

A spokesman for UIowa told the DCNF that “The video is out-of-date and inaccurate” and said the school “is in full compliance with state and federal law as well as all Iowa Board of Regents directives.” Gordon-Fletcher’s position was eliminated in March, the school said.

UIowa began dismantling its DEI programs in 2024 and continued throughout 2025. University president Barbara Wilson in July addressed concerns the university was not in compliance with anti-DEI laws, saying UIowa would investigate the matter and ensure its compliance.

Following the incident, Reynolds put out a statement condemning the university for failing to comply with the law.

“I’m appalled by the remarks made in this video by a University of Iowa employee who blatantly admits to defying DEI restrictions I signed into law on May 9, 2024,” the governor wrote. “I already issued a letter to the Board of Regents on January 23, 2025, reminding university representatives to comply, not only with state law, but an executive order signed by President Trump ending implementation of DEI policies at public institutions.  I will be referring this matter to Attorney General Brenna Bird for her review as it relates to Iowa’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Act.”

An administrator at ISU was caught under similar circumstances, explicitly stating the school is “finding the loopholes in the laws.”

“We are finding ways to be in compliance with the law and still do the work that needs to be done,” Susan Harper, director of the ISU LGBT center, said in a video recorded by AIM. “We have had to sort of shift some of our programming, like the work goes on.”

ISU did not respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.

“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and the smoke coming from these Iowa universities could cloud the state’s skies completely,” Michael Chamberlain, director of PPT, told the DCNF. “The fact that staff at two schools funded by taxpayer dollars felt comfortable expressing the view they can subvert state and federal law regarding DEI is evidence that this attitude filters down from higher up the chain.”

The Iowa Board of Regents adjusted its policy on DEI on Aug. 12 to state that university instructors can teach controversial topics that are “relevant to the course content,” but that they should be taught in a way that “fosters critical thinking and avoids indoctrination of one perspective.”

Trump’s January executive order sought to end DEI practices and race-based programs and decisions, saying they “undermine our national unity, as they deny, discredit, and undermine the traditional American values of hard work, excellence, and individual achievement in favor of an unlawful, corrosive, and pernicious identity-based spoils system.” Since then, several universities, businesses and accrediting bodies have bent the knee and demolished DEI offices, rewritten policies and adjusted goals.

However, several administrators and consultants for other universities have been caught discussing ways to sidestep the president’s orders on private email chains. Many major universities, such as Harvard and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), have also been accused of harboring illegal DEI tactics and continuing to use racial preferences.

“Not only do these incidents constitute possible violations of Titles VI and IX, they are a slap in the face to students who work hard to achieve and excel,” Chamberlain continued. “The federal government should investigate these incidents and take action to prevent similar behavior at other institutions.”

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Jaryn Crouson is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation.

 

 

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