Department of Education Investigates Duke University
The Department of Education has announced that it will investigate Duke University and the Duke Law Journal over allegations of racial bias in the editor selection process. This announcement came on a Monday, signaling a serious inquiry into how the law journal is managed.
The Civil Rights Office (OCR) said that the Duke Law Journal sent packets to various “affinity groups” in 2024, detailing the application process for potential new editors. Applicants were required to submit a 12-page analysis of an appellate court decision alongside a 500-word personal statement. These submissions would be evaluated using a point-based system that also considered the applicants’ first-year GPAs.
Interestingly, those applying from these “affinity groups” were given a chance to earn extra points if their personal statements discussed their racial or ethnic backgrounds. They were also encouraged to explain how belonging to an underrepresented group contributed to a diversity of perspectives.
The OCR believes this could violate Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Linda McMahon, in a statement, expressed concern that if Duke were prioritizing law or medical school applicants based on immutable characteristics, it not only undermines civil rights law but also challenges the meritocratic fabric of academic excellence. “Such practices have become distressingly common in our educational institutions,” she stated, emphasizing the need for reform.
Both McMahon and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from the Department of Health and Human Services urged Duke to carefully review its racial preference policies, suggesting that thorough reforms are required across its practices. Additionally, they proposed that Duke establish a “Meiha and Civil Rights Commission” to address any civil rights violations that arise.
Recently, Duke University faced criticism over its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Reports reveal that last year, the university introduced a plan — criticized by many as divisive — that labeled traditional standards like dress codes as elements of “white cultural hegemony.”
Despite attempts to reach out for comment, neither Duke University nor the Duke Law Journal responded immediately.
In an example of growing concerns around such DEI initiatives, Dr. Kendall Conger shared that he was fired from the Duke University health system after publicly opposing a pledge against racism, stating he felt it aligned more with ideological agendas than medical principles.
