The George Mason University Board of Visitors decided on Friday that to reward president Gregory Washington a small 1.5% raise in exchange for dismantling some of the school’s DEI programming according to the Washington Post.
Washington, who was in danger of losing his job commented after the deal commented on the decision.
“Regardless of how one views the events unfolding at George Mason University, today’s display of unity by the Mason community is inspiring. It is a reminder of how centrally important our university is to northern Virginia’s families and economy.”
The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) opened an investigation last month for allegedly violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (1964).
GMU, instituted its DEI policies in the aftermath of the George Floyd murder and alleged police brutality charges that swept the nation shortly after Washington began his tenure at the university.
President Trump has made eliminating DEI one of his signature causes since taking office in January.
According to multiple news reports Washington is a firm believer in favoring minorities for faculty positions even if their credentials were not as good as a non-minority candidate.
Washington wasn’t without his supporters as the AAUP passed a resolution supporting him.
“The Board of Visitors has utterly failed to support President Washington and George Mason University during this period of unprecedented and increasing federal scrutiny and political targeting,” the resolution read. “The silence from the Board has become deafening.”
He also had support from The International Youth and Students for Social Equality at George Mason University (GMU) who denounced what they said was the Trump administration’s fraudulent investigations into alleged racial discrimination in hiring, admissions, and the university’s response to antisemitism as fraudulent attempts to silence dissent and undermine democratic rights.
The current climate is vastly different from the 1980s when conservative economist Walter Williams joined the faculty, bringing nationwide attention to the school. While not a hotbed of liberal activism, the school now resembles most academia, to the detriment of the students.
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Author: Don Irvine
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