Group advocates for students to take legal action against universities over alleged anti-conservative bias

Exclusive: America First Legal Launches Toolkit to Help Student Loan Borrowers

America First Legal (AFL) is taking action to assist student‌ loan borrowers in having⁤ their debt forgiven if their university has made “substantial ⁤misrepresentations” regarding intellectual diversity and educational programs. AFL, a conservative legal ​group, aims to utilize borrower defense claims against schools that‍ promote “anti-American and anti-Semitic woke ‘intersectional’ indoctrination and host foreign propaganda.” ⁤The‌ goal is to hold these ​institutions accountable for prioritizing ideology over inquiry.

“This toolkit empowers students and parents who have ​been defrauded by the woke leftists who run our ‍colleges to⁣ push back,” stated Reed Rubenstein, AFL’s vice‌ president.⁣ “The higher education​ industry owes taxpayers and consumers the truth, and the Department of Education must support them by ⁢holding the industry accountable. The industry’s fraud ‌on the market perpetrated⁤ against ‌conservatives, pro-American, and Jewish students must be stopped.”

The Borrower Defense Toolkit

The “Borrower Defense Toolkit” arrives at a time when universities nationwide are facing investigations into antisemitism by ‌the Department of Education’s Office for Civil ‍Rights⁤ and the ‌House Education and Workforce Committee. Conservatives have long expressed concerns about⁤ the proliferation of left-wing ideology on campuses, criticizing schools for offering⁢ degrees of little value ‍and ⁣fostering a poor learning environment.

Borrower defense is a‌ provision in federal law that allows ⁣students who ⁤have been victims⁣ of “substantial misrepresentations” by their school to have their⁤ student ‌loans canceled by ⁣the Department of Education, making the institution ⁢itself‍ responsible for repaying⁣ the federal government.

“Many schools‍ only enforce their conduct policies against conservative pro-American, pro-life, and pro-Israel students or ‍faculty while leftist woke anti-Semites are protected—the rules simply do not apply to ​them,” AFL stated in ‌a press release. “If your college or university gives leftist students, pro-Hamas faculty, or‍ anti-American foreign nationals favors or fails to discipline ‍them in compliance with published standards of conduct, then it has likely made ⁢’substantial misrepresentations’ that may entitle you to⁣ claim a Borrower Defense to student⁤ loan ‌repayment.”

AFL asserts that these “substantial misrepresentations” can arise from how schools market their academic programs in communications and ⁤on their websites,‌ where‍ nearly all higher education institutions claim to be inclusive, law-abiding, and committed to enforcing conduct rules. However, in​ reality, these institutions⁢ do not provide an environment where conservative students can engage ‌in meaningful discourse.

According to federal law, universities are prohibited from omitting information “in​ such a way as to make an erroneous, ⁢misleading, or false ⁤statement.”

As of June 2023, approximately 43.4 million borrowers held $1.64 trillion in taxpayer-guaranteed student debt—a⁣ subsidy that AFL argues is essential for the survival of the‍ higher education industry.

Borrower defense claims have traditionally been directed at for-profit colleges, where the‌ value of a degree is tied to⁤ post-graduation ⁢salaries, requiring the school to ensure the success of their graduates​ in the job market. However, public institutions have ⁢recently seen an⁣ increase in ⁢borrower defense claims, causing ‍concern and uncertainty among public research universities, community ⁤colleges, and other not-for-profit institutions.

Click here to read more‍ from the Washington Examiner.

What ⁤is the purpose ⁣of the Borrower Defense Toolkit‍ launched​ by AFL?

Ing the debt. The Borrower Defense ⁣Toolkit put forth by AFL aims to guide ‍student loan borrowers through the process of filing a claim and seeking debt ‍forgiveness.

The ⁤toolkit provides step-by-step instructions on​ how to file a borrower defense claim, including what information and evidence needs to be included. It also outlines the criteria that must⁣ be met for a ‌successful claim, such as proving that the university made substantial misrepresentations⁣ regarding intellectual diversity and ​educational programs. The toolkit ‌further explains how to gather⁢ evidence, draft a claim, and submit ⁣it ⁤to‌ the ⁣Department of Education.

Additionally, the​ Borrower Defense Toolkit includes resources​ and guidance on navigating the ‌often complex ​legal process. It provides links to‌ relevant laws, regulations, and ⁢court cases that can strengthen the borrower’s case and increase the chances of a successful outcome.

AFL’s initiative is focused on addressing what it sees as a systemic issue within higher education institutions. The toolkit⁤ emphasizes the importance of intellectual diversity and academic freedom, arguing that⁤ universities should prioritize‌ open‍ inquiry ⁣and the exchange of ideas over promoting a specific ideology. By taking legal action ⁤against schools that ⁤engage in what AFL perceives ⁢as indoctrination and promotion of​ foreign ⁤propaganda,‌ the organization hopes to​ bring about meaningful change and⁢ accountability within the higher ‌education industry.

The launch of⁢ the Borrower‍ Defense Toolkit⁤ comes at a⁣ critical time when concerns about ideological bias and ​educational quality⁢ are receiving increased attention. With investigations into antisemitism ⁤and ⁤left-wing influence on campuses underway,‌ conservatives and other concerned individuals now have a ‌resource to⁤ advocate for their ⁤rights and seek redress when they⁤ have been defrauded by their universities.

AFL’s efforts to assist student loan borrowers⁤ align with their ‍mission ⁣of upholding conservative values and‍ preserving American ideals. By providing a comprehensive toolkit, AFL aims ‍to empower students and parents ⁢in holding higher education institutions accountable for their actions, ensuring that taxpayer funds are not ⁣supporting ideologies that may be contrary to the ⁣principles of academic freedom, intellectual diversity, and inquiry.

In ​conclusion, AFL’s launch of the Borrower Defense Toolkit marks a significant step towards assisting student loan borrowers who have been victims of misrepresentations‌ by‌ their universities. By providing guidance and ⁣resources, AFL aims to empower‌ borrowers to seek debt ⁣forgiveness⁢ and hold institutions accountable for promoting ideological⁢ indoctrination and foreign propaganda over genuine⁢ academic ⁢inquiry. This initiative​ reflects growing ‍concerns about ideological bias on campuses and⁣ underscores the importance of intellectual ⁤diversity in higher education.