University of Alabama under investigation for ‘race-based segregation’

by Anna Barrett, Alabama Reflector
March 14, 2025

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) said Friday that the University of Alabama was under investigation by the Office for Civil Rights for allegedly offering “impermissible race-based scholarships” and engaging in “race-based segregation.”

UA was one of seven universities facing the allegations. The OCR also accused 45 other universities of engaging in “race-exclusionary practices in their graduate programs.”

“Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin. We will not yield on this commitment,” U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a press release.

Messages seeking comment were left with OCR and UA on Friday. OCR did not say in the release which scholarships are classified as race-based or provide any examples of race-based segregation by the University of Alabama. A list of undergraduate scholarships offered at UA does not include any with explicit racial components. 

Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for civil rights in the OCR, sent a letter to universities on Feb. 14 to reiterate schools’ civil rights obligations to end the use of racial preferences and stereotypes in education programs and activities. The letter claimed that American educational institutions “have discriminated against students on the basis of race, including white and Asian students.”

The letter from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights called the existence of systemic and structural racism “a false premise.”

“Proponents of these discriminatory practices have attempted to further justify them—particularly during the last four years—under the banner of “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (“DEI”), smuggling racial stereotypes and explicit race-consciousness into everyday training, programming, and discipline,” the letter said. 

The University of Alabama closed dedicated spaces for its Black Student Union and an LGBTQ+ resource center last year after the state passed a law banning publicly-funded DEI programs and the teaching of so-called “divisive concepts.” UA professors and students at the University of Alabama Birmingham have sued to overturn the law, saying it violates their due process and free speech rights. 

Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Brian Lyman for questions: info@alabamareflector.com.

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SUMMARY: On March 14, 2025, Jeremy Jones hosted News 5 Now, covering several key stories. Severe weather is expected this weekend, with the first storms arriving tonight and potential for strong winds and hail. A government shutdown is looming, with the Senate needing to pass a spending bill by midnight. In sports, Auburn and Alabama are competing in the SEC tournament. Additionally, the Fair Hope Arts and Crafts Festival runs from March 14-16, featuring local art and activities. Viewers are encouraged to engage on social media with questions and polls throughout the broadcast.

Streaming on “News 5 Now”: Severe weather forecast this weekend — what to know; family fun at the Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival; and the latest on a potential government shutdown.

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SUMMARY: Alabama is under alert from tonight through Saturday for strong thunderstorms with significant risks of tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail. There will be two rounds of severe weather: the first from tonight until 8 a.m. Saturday and the second starting around noon, lasting into early Sunday. Areas like Tuscaloosa and Demopolis have a higher chance of severe storms, while Anniston and Montgomery face a lower risk. A potential level four risk for widespread severe thunderstorms is expected Saturday afternoon, with possibilities of tornadoes rated EF2 or higher. Residents should stay informed through weather updates and warnings.

Alabama on Alert: Strong tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail are possible in the weather forecast this weekend

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