Petersen and Toma Back ASU Professor in Landmark Lawsuit Against DEI Training

Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma have submitted an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit against Arizona State University (ASU) and the Arizona Board of Regents. The lawsuit, initiated by Dr. Owen Anderson and the Goldwater Institute, claims these institutions are unlawfully mandating “racist” Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training for faculty.

Petersen and Toma assert that the Goldwater case represents civil rights concerns, referencing Arizona Revised Statutes that aim to prevent discriminatory practices within state and local government. Their brief calls for the court to reject a motion to dismiss filed by the Arizona Board of Regents.

In a statement shared on social media, the Arizona Republican Party emphasized their stance against discrimination, asserting that DEI training equates to discrimination masked by terminology intended to promote equality.

According to the lawsuit, Dr. Anderson alleges that ASU is inappropriately utilizing taxpayer funds to enforce mandatory DEI training for faculty members. He argues that his refusal to partake in this training, which he views as discriminatory, may subject him to disciplinary actions.

Dr. Anderson expressed his viewpoint: “I shouldn’t be forced to take training and affirm ideas with which I disagree as a condition of employment. This ‘training’ is simply racism under the guise of DEI.”

Stacy Skankey, a staff attorney for Goldwater, highlighted that Arizona law prohibits mandatory training for state employees that discriminates based on factors such as race and sex. She criticized the content of ASU’s training for promoting ideologies that imply blame based on racial or gender identity.

Further criticism arose over specific concepts taught in the training, which included discussions about “white supremacy,” “white privilege,” and “white fragility.” These concepts, according to critics, reinforce discriminatory perceptions rather than fostering an inclusive environment.

The complaint asserts that ASU and the Arizona Board of Regents are misusing public funds to develop and enforce training that demands faculty members to adhere to specific, biased narratives regarding race and ethnicity. This, they argue, infringes on the free speech rights protected by the Arizona Constitution.

The lawsuit details numerous claims, asserting that the training conveys the idea that individuals from certain racial or sexual backgrounds bear inherent disadvantages or responsibilities for the actions of others within their group. Skankey emphasized that this compulsion to endorse specific speech is unconstitutional in Arizona.

In response to the ongoing litigation, an ASU spokesperson contended that the Goldwater Institute’s claims mischaracterize the training content, framing their argument as politically motivated rather than legally grounded. The university reaffirmed its commitment to supporting an inclusive educational environment.

The case is currently pending a response from the Arizona Board of Regents.