400 college professors defend 'antiracist' curricula, slam lawsuit against Penn State that alleges anti-white discrimination

More than 400 faculty members from colleges across the country have signed a letter defending diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and slamming a lawsuit against Penn State University, which alleges that the school engages in anti-white discrimination.

The letter, entitled "Letter in Support of Antiracist Faculty at Penn State," claimed that the lawsuit filed on behalf of former PSU English professor Zack De Piero misrepresents DEI programs at PSU and elsewhere. Such DEI programs are simply "acknowledging historical and systemic injustices, recognizing privilege, and providing students with opportunities to learn about a diversity of cultures and peoples," the letter argued. The letter also dismissed most DEI critics as censors of free speech who imagine "themselves as victims of 'reverse-racism.'"

However, as outlets such as the Daily Mail and the College Fix have noted, the letter does not actually address the allegations De Piero made in his lawsuit, which are unsettling. For example, at a professional development event hosted by an educational equity administrator three years ago, De Piero and other white faculty at PSU Abington were told that they have "privileged racial identities." The host then instructed everyone to hold their breath in remembrance of George Floyd but suggested that "White and non-Black people of color" hold their breath "longer" so that they could truly "feel the pain."

De Piero also claimed in the lawsuit that he was told to factor in a student's race when issuing grades. "Defendants’ bigotry manifests itself in low expectations. They do not expect Black or Hispanic students to achieve the same mastery of academic subject matters as other students and therefore insist that deficient performance must be excused," the lawsuit said.

De Piero, 40, later told Fox News Digital that DEI programs and those who enforce them are "waging a psychological war campaign ... to break people." The lawsuit claimed that after De Piero complained about the anti-white programming, PSU accused him of engaging in bullying and harassing and even gave him lower scores on his performance reviews and suggested that he may suffer from a mental illness. He ultimately left the school last August and now teaches at Northampton Community College.

The letter defending not just DEI, but what it now calls "diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging" or "DEIB," ignored those allegations. Instead, it took aim at De Piero's attorney, Samantha Harris, because she is a member of the board of advisers for the Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism. The letter claimed that FAIR has attempted to "weaponize the courts" so as to destroy the laudable efforts of college professors and administrators "who have dedicated their careers to challenging systemic racism in higher education while creating a welcoming environment for historically marginalized groups."

The letter closed by denouncing the recent SCOTUS decision to end affirmative action practices at most American colleges and universities. It also reiterated that De Piero's lawsuit is merely an "unscrupulous" attack against PSU and threatened PSU administrators that they will "be held accountable" if they do not actively fight to uphold "the university’s stated values and commitment to DEIB."

Most of the signees are affiliated with Penn State University, but only three are from PSU Abington, where De Piero once taught. Other universities represented by the signatories include Georgetown, Rutgers, the University of Michigan, the University of Arizona, College of the Holy Cross, the University of Kentucky, and the University of Mississippi.

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