George Mason University faces multiple investigations related to its diversity, equity and inclusion practices that the Trump administration says violates federal civil rights laws.
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Virginia Democrats Want GYul Mason University’s board president Charles Stimson withdraws himself from a federal investigation into the university and discusses the future of the university president, saying his role at the Heritage Foundation recently released a report of criticism of GMU, causing conflicts of interest.
The letter comes nearly two weeks after the state Senate committee blocked 14 governor appointments, including six state boards at GMU, which has appointed six people at the GMU that brought the visitor committee to a quorum. The letter also follows the legacy report, which accused the GMU of trying to mask diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Stimson has several jobs at Heritage, and he is currently the deputy director of the organization’s Center for Law and Justice Studies.
Trump administration accuses GMU Engage in discriminatory recruitment practices and implement “illegal DEI policies” and open several surveys for universities.
However, GMU President Gregory Washington persisted, believing that the federal government has rushed to investigate and put forward the findings, while refusing to call for an individual apology. Now, with GMU’s visitor board trapped in the absence of laws and the legal challenges to appointments, state Democrats are seeking to neutralize Stimson as principal.
Call for retreat
Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell and other senior Senate Democrats, L. Louise Lucas and Mamie E. State Democrats believe that Stimson’s employers are essentially seeking to hurt the university.
“This creates an untenable moral conflict that puts your employer’s postings completely against your duties as principal,” the legislator wrote.
(Stimson is one of several college board members appointed by Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin, which includes conservative think tanks, the Trump administration, GOP Megadonors and former Republican politicians, including some of whom have ties to conservative think tanks, some of whom are linked to them. Internal Advanced ED Discovered earlier this year. )
State Democrats also have attracted attention from becoming a principal.
“The fact that your choice as principal only occurs after the direct intervention of Gov. Youngkin has reportedly complicated the emergence of misconduct, which raises questions about whether your estate foundation has affiliation affects the appointment,” the Democrat wrote.
Given that they see it as a conflict of interest, the three Democratic leaders called on Stimson to “retraction from the deliberations, discussions and votes of all visitor committees” involving employment status or performance assessments in Washington, GMU’s response to federal DEI investigations or compliance concerns, GMU funding strategies and DEI strategies.
Surowell and other Democrats wrote to Stimson, calling on him to respond to “outline the specific steps you will take to resolve this conflict” and “If you cannot commit to such a review, I believe the appropriate course will be your resignation as principal to completely eliminate this conflict.”
Neither GMU officials nor Stimson responded Internal Advanced ED.
Youngkin accused Democrats of trying to undermine the university board.
“Virginia’s progressive left-elected officials are trying to paralyze the board of the University of Virginia and the University by using mean bullying and intimidation tactics,” Youngkin wrote in an article on X.
Teacher support
Just as GMU’s first black president, Washington, found himself in the Trump administration’s fork-haired and counterattack, board support has been a constant problem. Rumors of Washington’s expected dismissal spin in July, but the visitor board kept him working.
George Mason’s faculty also rally around the embattled president, with dozens of professors, students and others protesting outside the July meeting. The GMU chapter of the American Association of University Professors praised the senator’s letter Tuesday.
“We believe Mr. Stimson failed to fulfill his trust duties and repeatedly exceeded his proper authority as the president of the Visitors Committee. His contradictory leadership role at the Heritage Foundation, and he repeatedly tried to overturn its authority, threatening the foundation of the largest public university in Virginia, jeopardizing its governance, stability, stability, future executive committee,” he said.
The local AAUP chapter has raised a sharper tone than Virginia’s Senate leaders, accusing Stimson of “usurping GMU President Gregory Washington Management’s power to respond to the federal investigation, contrary to the president’s authorized authorities, the agency [Board of Visitors’] Articles of Association. ”
GMU-AAUP also responded to calls on Stimson to withdraw from certain board responsibilities.
“If Rector Stimson cannot commit to this review, we will join Senators Surovell, Lucas and Locke to call on him to resign as president to completely eliminate the conflict,” the organization wrote. “The independence, integrity and future of George Mason University will undoubtedly depend on.”
The organization had no confidence in the visitor board in July.
