Feds Investigating Princeton University For Racial Bias

PRINCETON, NJ — The US Department of Education informed Princeton University last week in a letter that it was opening an investigation into its non-discrimination practices.

This comes after the university’s recent acknowledgement of “systemic racism” on campus.

“On September 2, 2020, you admitted Princeton’s educational program is and for decades has been racist,” federal officials wrote in a Sept. 16 letter to the university.

In a public statement released last Friday, the university said it was “unfortunate that the department appears to believe that grappling honestly with the nation’s history and the current effects of systemic racism runs afoul of existing law.”

Earlier this month, University President Christopher L. Eisgrube wrote a letter to the community, and said he charged university leaders with developing plans “to combat systemic racism at Princeton and beyond.”

Eisgrube’s message came after nationwide protests following the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and other Black Americans. The letter underlined the new efforts undertaken by the university to increase diversity on campus, and outreach to communities disproportionately affected by racism.

Read More Here: Princeton University Launches New Program To Increase Diversity

Princeton defended its letter and said it stood by statements made on “the prevalence of systemic racism".

The Education Department said Princeton must make available all requested records including transcribed interviews of personnel. The Education Department's letter did not cite any specific incident of racism in the university, but cited mostly from Eisgrube’s Sep. 2 message.

Princeton, founded in 1746, is one of the wealthiest and top universities in the country.

In its letter, the Education Department suggested that Princeton may not have been eligible for more than $75 million in taxpayer funding it received since Eisgruber became president in 2013.

The funding, said the letter, was dependent on the university’s compliance to nondiscrimination laws. The Education Department said it was considering measures to “recover funds” or impose a fine.

Princeton said it was operating within federal civil rights laws.

“The University disagrees and looks forward to furthering our educational mission by explaining why our statements and actions are consistent not only with the law, but also with the highest ideals and aspirations of this country,” the university said in the statement.