VCU Sparks Student, Faculty Revolt After Nixing ‘Racial Literacy’ Requirement

Hundreds of professors and students at Virginia Commonwealth University have penned an angry letter targeting the school’s administration after its sudden decision to nix a “racial literacy” class requirement—calling the move an act of “blatant institutional racism.”

VCU claimed that it was on the edge of making history as one of the country’s first institutions of higher education to require students to take such courses, until school officials announced to the university community on July 26 that the two courses were no longer necessary.

“The decision [to cancel the course requirements] constitutes an unprecedented violation of shared governance and faculty control over university curriculum,” read the lengthy 26-page letter written by students and faculty members to university officials and provided to The Daily Beast by signatory Prof. Mignonne Guy. “It does so in a moment when faculty who commit to the work of fighting for racial justice in higher education are under attack.”

Read more at The Daily Beast.