The DOJ launched a probe into George Mason University over claims it gave preferential treatment to candidates of certain races and sexes during recruitment.<\/p>\n
The Department of Justice has officially launched an investigation into George Mason University over allegations it gave preferential treatment to candidates of certain races and sexes during the hiring process, among other employment practices.\n<\/p>\n
The DOJ said its investigation stems from statements and policies made by George Mason\u2019s president that the push to hire people of certain races and sexes were decisions made to achieve \u201cdiversity goals,\u201d according to a news release<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is unlawful and un-American to deny equal access to employment opportunities on the basis of race and sex,\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, of the Justice Department\u2019s Civil Rights Division, in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen employers screen out qualified candidates from the hiring process, they not only erode trust in our public institutions \u2014 they violate the law, and the Justice Department will investigate accordingly.\u201d<\/p>\n The DOJ outlined some of the allegations in a letter to George Mason dated Thursday<\/a>, saying internal documents provided to them showed GMU has a policy of \u201clisting the race of each member on faculty hiring panels to ensure greater nonwhite participation in the hiring process.\u201d<\/p>\n