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X-WR-CALNAME:Attorney General Todd Rokita launches inquiry into Notre Dame
 ’s DEI policies
X-WR-TIMEZONE:Indiana (East)
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260913T235439Z
UID:tag:localist.com\,2008:EventInstance_49665019206009
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250515
DESCRIPTION:Attorney General Todd Rokita launches inquiry into Notre Dame
 ’s DEI policies\n\nIndiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has issued a let
 ter to the University of Notre Dame concerning the university’s diversit
 y\, equity\, and inclusion (DEI) policies and practices\, which potentiall
 y violate federal and state civil rights laws and the terms of the univers
 ity’s nonprofit status.  \n\nPublicly available materials\, including th
 e university’s 2033 Strategic Framework\, suggest that Notre Dame may tr
 eat students\, prospective students\, faculty\, staff\, and job applicants
  differently based on race or ethnicity\; employ race in a negative manner
  when making admissions or hiring decisions\; or utilize racial stereotypi
 ng.\n\nRacial discrimination of any kind in educational settings violates 
 fundamental moral and legal principles that are enshrined in state law. At
 torney General Rokita said nonprofit universities that flout those princip
 les and pursue race-based DEI initiatives may jeopardize their nonprofit s
 tatus.   \n\n“Indiana will not tolerate racial discrimination in educati
 on under the guise of DEI\,” said Attorney General Todd Rokita. “Fairn
 ess demands that every individual be judged on their merits\, not the colo
 r of their skin. Notre Dame’s DEI policies raise troubling questions abo
 ut whether\, in its pursuit of DEI goals\, the university may be crossing 
 the clear line that Indiana law draws against racial discrimination. I am 
 seeking answers.” \n\nNotre Dame's 2033 Strategic Framework describes va
 rious race-conscious DEI initiatives that it pursues. The Framework highli
 ghts efforts to increase “underrepresented” student and faculty number
 s and track enrollment in classes taught by faculty who “look like” un
 derrepresented students.\n\nNotre Dame’s website also suggests that the 
 university may host racially segregated “multicultural recognition cerem
 onies” for graduates. These practices and others present serious questio
 ns about whether Notre Dame is in compliance with civil rights laws and th
 e U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. 
 Harvard\, in which the Court held that race-based admissions practices in 
 higher education are unlawful.\n\nAttorney General Rokita’s letter expla
 ins that racial discrimination by any university cannot be squared with th
 e public or charitable purposes that a nonprofit like Notre Dame is suppos
 ed to serve. \n\nThe letter requests information from Notre Dame about its
  admissions and hiring practices\, including details about any changes the
 y made to its practices following the Students for Fair Admissions decisio
 n and documents showing what guidance it provides to faculty and admission
 s staff regarding its DEI goals. The letter also asks Notre Dame to explai
 n whether and how race plays a role in its efforts to recruit\, hire\, and
  enroll members of “underrepresented” groups.  \n\nAttorney General Ro
 kita said Notre Dame’s responses to his office’s inquiry will help det
 ermine whether further action is warranted to ensure it is operating consi
 stently with the terms of its nonprofit status and Indiana’s commitment 
 to racial equality.\n\nThe letter instructs Notre Dame to respond by June 
 9\, 2025. \n\nRead the full letter here.  \n\nA headshot of Attorney Gener
 al Rokita is available for download.\n\n###
LOCATION:
SUMMARY:Attorney General Todd Rokita launches inquiry into Notre Dame’s D
 EI policies
URL;VALUE=URI:https://events.in.gov/event/attorney-general-todd-rokita-laun
 ches-inquiry-into-notre-dames-dei-policies
CATEGORIES:Press Releases
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