February 20, 2025

Open Letter for the Protection of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) at George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School

 

Dear George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School Administration, Faculty, Staff, Students, & Board of Visitors:

George Mason University’s student body is composed of scholars from more than 130 countries, with 1,500 accents and 80 languages recorded in Mason’s Speech Accent Archive, and 40% are students of color. These figures are in no way indicative of the breadth of diversity that shapes George Mason University and certainly do not reflect the relatively uniform group of students and viewpoints at Antonin Scalia Law School. 

 

George Mason’s pledge to diversity states:

• Mason’s goal is to build and sustain an inclusive campus community and to foster a welcoming climate that values and respects all members of the community.
• True diversity is defined not only as differences in individual backgrounds, personal identities, intellectual approaches, and demographics; it is also the removal of barriers and the creation of space that allow individuals to fully engage in the life of the university.
• As individuals of our own unique identities — faith, race, sexuality, gender, abilities, socioeconomic class — we each offer an irreplaceable opportunity to examine issues from new and innovative perspectives.
• The commitment to providing these opportunities equally to every member of our community is the force behind creating a diverse, ideal George Mason University.

 

     Adequate and accurate diversity, equity, and inclusion is vital in shaping well informed and educated lawyers who can argue both sides of the aisle while engaging in legitimate civil discourse. Yet, as a collective, we believe that Antonin Scalia Law School:

1. Diverges from this pledge; 
2. Fosters an environment that is both unwelcoming and hostile to diversity; 
3. Claims to promote the First Amendment Freedom of Speech while subtly promoting only one viewpoint;
4. Undermines its educational potential by homogenizing voices across staff and students; and
5. Avoids addressing the reality of its shortcomings on diversity––in its student body, tenured faculty, opinions, thoughts, course offerings, programs, dialogue, policies, and procedures—masked under George Mason University’s cumulative figures.

 

     In the last month, we have witnessed the resignations of several of our U.S. Attorneys and lifelong civil servants––driven by the Trump Administration’s demands that they engage in illegal and unethical actions. We are facing the reality of a Congress and United States Supreme Court that have acquiesced to consolidating power behind the Executive Branch. We face a President who is legislating from the Executive Branch, signing Executive Orders that directly violate our United States Constitution; many that aim to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion. Upholding the system of checks and balances established by our United States Constitution and the rule of law are something we should be able to agree upon.

     The current Trump Administration’s fixation on diversity as a negative flies in the face of our Constitutional principles and our academic responsibilities. But, those who seek to suppress others often use Freedom of Speech as an argument to silence or intimidate those who challenge their views. Such opposition is then labeled as “censorship,” “overreaching political correctness,” or “wokeness.” In this way, the conversation moves away from constructive discourse and weaponizes the First Amendment to suppress those who do not agree with the same extreme beliefs. Even in our short tenure here, we have repeatedly seen this occur on our campus.

Still, Antonin Scalia Law School explains online:

• In light of the current state of dialogue and debate in this country, the faculty of the Antonin Scalia Law School hereby reaffirms our commitment to freedom of inquiry and freedom of speech for all members of our community.
• Starting some years ago, many schools have promulgated official speech codes that seek to prevent students from expressing unpopular opinions. Thanks largely to the efforts of Scalia Law faculty, George Mason University as a whole has earned the highest rating for freedom of speech from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. We are proud of that accomplishment.

 

Respectfully, that has not been our experience at this institution.

     With the Trump Administration’s seeming legal violations and circumvention of the norms of governance—and, more plainly, its attacks on our democracy—Antonin Scalia Law School has remained silent. At minimum the novelty of these legal issues is worthy of address. Given its proximity to the United States Capitol, its inlets to the branches of power, and its relationships with Supreme Court Justices, this Law School’s silence is unreasonable. 

     Despite the aforementioned pledge, this Law School covertly removed its diversity page. With the stark reality of the government’s aim to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion across higher education, we deserve a better understanding of our institution’s current position.

     The arc of history bends towards justice, and we hope George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School does, too. We urge you to be a leader in justice, and speak out now to defend diversity, equity, and inclusion; our Constitution; democracy; freedom of thought and speech; and the rule of law. 

Sincerely, 

We the Signatories