{"id":2608044,"date":"2026-05-28T18:39:56","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T22:39:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/law-students-threatened-for-not-attending-mandated-dei-training-report\/"},"modified":"2026-05-28T18:43:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T22:43:54","slug":"law-students-threatened-for-not-attending-mandated-dei-training-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/law-students-threatened-for-not-attending-mandated-dei-training-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Law Students Threatened for Not Attending Mandated DEI Training: Report"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flaw-students-threatened-for-not-attending-mandated-dei-training-report%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2608044&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A report says students at Southern Illinois University\u2019s Simmons Law School were threatened with a \u201cletter of reprimand\u201d placed in their permanent records if they didn\u2019t attend a required DEI (diversity, equity, adn inclusion) training, with the letter potentially affecting their status if bar-character-and-fitness paperwork is requested. The message obtained after Freedom of Facts Act requests reportedly states that students who fail to complete required sessions (and don\u2019t submit make-ups within a reasonable time) would receive the reprimand, which Defending Education-an <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >affiliated parental rights group-secured<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The report also alleges the DEI training materials suggest the legal profession can be racially discriminatory and includes slides claiming bullying disproportionately affects underrepresented groups and that lawyers of colour are bullied more often than white lawyers.Defending Education and it&#8217;s communications director characterize the approach as indefensible.<\/p>\n<p>The article places this dispute in the broader context of American Bar Association accreditation rules that require law schools to support DEI efforts, noting the ABA\u2019s governing council recently moved to change that requirement, with formal changes later considered by the House of Delegates.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Students at Southern Illinois University\u2019s Simmons Law School were reportedly threatened with a \u201cletter of reprimand\u201d that would be placed in their permanent file if they did not attend a mandatory diversity, equity, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/military-spent-five-million-man-hours-on-stand-downs-to-counter-service-member-extremism-report\/\" title=\"Military Spent Five Million Man-Hours On \u2018Stand Downs\u2019 To Counter Service Member Extremism: ...\">inclusion training session<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The reprimand letter could also be d with the state bar, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailysignal.com\/2026\/05\/26\/law-school-threatened-students-who-opted-out-of-dei-training\/?utm_source=referral&#038;utm_medium=offthepress&#038;utm_campaign=home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according<\/a> to a report from the Daily Signal published earlier this week.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThose who cannot attend in person typically fulfill the make-up expectations without issue,\u201d an associate dean wrote to one of the students who didn\u2019t wish to participate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf a student misses a required session and does not complete a make-up within a reasonable period of time, we typically issue a letter of reprimand,\u201d the dean added.<\/p>\n<p>The  was obtained by a parental rights group called Defending Education.<\/p>\n<p>After multiple Freedom of Information Act requests, Defending Education obtained the message, which also said that the \u201cletter is placed in the student\u2019s permanent file and would be d with the bar if the file is requested as part of the character and fitness process.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In addition, other s revealed that the university is teaching students that the law, and legal field, can be \u201cracially discriminatory.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Daily Signal highlighted a specific part of the training that mentioned bullying.<\/p>\n<p>One of the presentation slides read, \u201cBullying disproportionately affects traditionally underrepresented groups,\u201d while another slide claimed \u201clawyers of color were bullied more often than white lawyers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Erika Sanzi, senior director of communications at Defending Education, told the outlet that the school\u2019s tactics are \u201cindefensible and embarrassing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThreatening law school students with a letter of reprimand if they refuse to attend a DEI session they were deceived about is indefensible and embarrassing,\u201d a statement from Defending Education noted.<\/p>\n<p>This news comes just days after the council of the American Bar Association, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/american-bar-association-deals-major-blow-to-dei-in-sweeping-change-to-law-schools-across-the-country\/\" title=\"... Deals Major Blow to DEI in Sweeping Change to ... Schools Across the Country\">oversees law school accreditation<\/a> in the United States, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/american-bar-association-deals-major-blow-dei-sweeping-change-law-schools-across-country\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">moved<\/a> to change a rule that forces schools to support DEI.<\/p>\n<p>This represents a major reversal from the decades-old requirement that law schools actively work to increase the amount of female and minority students within their ranks.<\/p>\n<p>The rule will not officially change, however, until the ABA\u2019s House of Delegates examines the issue in August.<\/p>\n<p>The requirement may not be formally changed until 2027, and was initially suspended back in February 2025, one month after President Donald Trump began his second term in office.<\/p>\n<p>The president has continually opposed DEI initiatives and has worked to eliminate such doctrines within federal agencies.<\/p>\n<p>He has also threatened to withhold federal funds from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/medical-school-rebrands-dei-department-circumvent-trump-administration-continuing-troubling-trend-academia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">organizations<\/a> that continue to push DEI, and those that attempt to rebrand in an effort to sidestep the new regulations.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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