America First Legal filed a formal civil rights complaint on June 24, accusing Colorado State University (CSU) of replacing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives with new titles—while keeping policies and programs intact. The group alleges CSU’s actions violate the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 14173, and could risk nearly a third of the university’s federal funding.
The complaint specifically identifies renamed programs that embed DEI standards into faculty recruiting practices. CSU’s Faculty Recruitment Toolkit continues to prioritize inclusive search committees, bias training, and language requiring active efforts to increase “diversity, equity, and inclusion”.
America First Legal also highlights race-based scholarships, including the Diversity Matters College of Business scholarship and LGBTQ+ STEM grants, as evidence of CSU’s ongoing identity-based favoritism.
Of particular concern is CSU’s All-University Core Curriculum requirement mandating courses on race, identity, and social justice—such as “Thinking Toward a Thriving Planet: Approaches to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion” and “Sociology of Race and Racism”. The complaint contends these courses force ideological content on students.
CSU also retains its Bias Reporting System, which encourages reporting perceived bias incidents. America First Legal argues this system chills free speech and forces conformist “conversations” that undermine First Amendment rights.
CSU walls have responded cautiously. A statement confirms awareness of the complaint and promises a formal response via the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
