Va. student leaders urge Youngkin to address ‘attacks’ on ed [Video]

The elected student body presidents of 10 public Virginia universities have sent a letter to Gov. Glenn Youngkin, asking to meet with him and address his actions regarding diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives on college campuses.

After the request, the boards of Virginia Commonwealth University and George Mason University dropped the requirement for students to take the DEI courses this fall. VCU’s board rejected the mandate on a 10-5 vote. GMU’s board delayed the requirement by a year and pushed off the decision for next year’s board.

“Recent politically driven changes to offices and programs that offer academic support, community-building opportunities, safe spaces for mental health discussions, trusted mentors, and professional development have left many students fearful for the future of the services they rely on for both their education and personal growth,” the students’ letter says.