GMU’s Scalia law school removes DEI pages, prompting student petition

By Dan Egitto
Published February 25, 2025 at 9:45AM


Antonin Scalia Law School in 2016 (file photo)

George Mason University’s law school has removed webpages related to diversity, equity and inclusion, sparking student criticism and casting doubt on the future of related programs. ... Pages related to Antonin Scalia Law School’s DEI Task Force, DEI Advisory Board and overall approach to diversity have vanished following a Feb. 14 letter from the U.S. Department of Education taking aim at such programs.

https://web.archive.org/web/20240204034922/https://www.law.gmu.edu/assets/files/centers/DEI-FINALRECOMMENDATIONS.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20240204011221/https://www.law.gmu.edu/diversity/task_forces
https://web.archive.org/web/20241212055222/https://www.law.gmu.edu/diversity/

In response to this move — which happened without a public explanation — some members of Scalia Law’s student body penned their own letter last week, calling on the school to be more transparent in its decisions and reaffirm its commitment to diversity. A related Change.org petition had earned 183 signatures as of this morning (Tuesday).

“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,” the letter says. “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,” it continues.

In contrast to the law school, GMU itself continues to maintain several DEI-related webpages and programs as the university awaits more specific direction from the federal government.

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About the Author

Dan Egitto
Dan Egitto is an editor and reporter at ARLnow. Originally from Central Florida, he graduated from Duke University and previously reported at the Palatka Daily News in Florida and the Vallejo Times-Herald in California. Dan joined ARLnow in January 2024.