The U.S. Department of Justice announced an investigation Wednesday into diversity, equity and inclusion practices at ASU.
According to a press release from the DOJ's Office of Public Affairs, viral videos showing that ASU "denied equal treatment to students based on race, color, or national origin" led to the investigation.
The DOJ's Civil Rights Division will be conducting the investigation, the press release stated. The division will look into whether the University is subjecting students to illegal discrimination in areas like admissions, recruitment, scholarships and educational support.
The Civil Rights Division has not yet reached any conclusion from the investigation, according to the press release.
"No student should be denied access to opportunities or resources because of race, color, or national origin," Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division said in the press release. "The United States is committed to keeping universities free of unlawful discrimination — especially when they try to hide illegal conduct to avoid oversight and compliance."
Prior to the investigation, a conservative media watchdog organization, Accuracy In Media, released a series of secret recordings featuring University employees. In these videos, faculty and staff members were seen speaking about DEI practices at the University.
A total of seven secret recordings of University employees have been released.
Another conservative watchdog organization, Protect the Public's Trust, filed federal complaints against the University over the videos.
READ MORE: Two new secret recordings of employees published, complaints filed against ASU
The DOJ has not confirmed whether the viral videos that spurred the investigation are the same ones about which Protect the Public's Trust complained.
A University spokesperson said in a written statement that the University fully complies with federal law and does not discriminate in admissions.
"Not only would doing so violate Arizona Board of Regents and ASU policy, but ASU has since 2010 operated under a state constitutional provision that prohibits preferential treatment or discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public education," the spokesperson said. "ASU is aware of the Department of Justice's press release regarding an investigation and of the 'recent viral videos' referred to in it."
The University does not comment on secret recordings of employees who are not authorized to speak on behalf of the University, the spokesperson said.
This story is developing and may be updated.
Edited by Carsten Oyer, Senna James, Kate Gore and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at apruiz@asu.edu and follow @andiruiz2405 on X.
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Andi Ruiz is a lead politics reporter at the State Press dedicated to serving her community with truth and honesty in her reporting. She has been working in broadcast and news since high school and was recently an anchor at The Cut Network during her first year at Cronkite. She is going into her second year at ASU as a Barrett Honors student studying journalism and mass communication.
