Rokita seeks more DEI information from Notre Dame, Butler

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana’s attorney general wants more information about diversity, equity and inclusion practices at two private Indiana universities.

Attorney General Todd Rokita issued Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs) seeking information about DEI practices at the University of Notre Dame and Butler University. Rokita said his office has yet to receive materials requested in May addressing some of his specific concerns.

Rokita said he is trying to determine if the universities are engaging in “racially discriminatory practices” that may violate their nonprofit statuses, the Indiana False Claims Act or the Deceptive Consumer Sales Act.

“Notre Dame and Butler were given ample time to address the concerns of many by responding to questions about their DEI practices, but they failed to provide anything meaningful,” Rokita said in a statement.

“Just because the universities say they are complying with state law does not make it so. Publicly available materials in which the universities describe their race-conscious policies and practices are troubling and raise serious questions about whether they treat their students, faculty, and staff differently based on race or skin color. On behalf of the people of Indiana, a full investigation is warranted to ensure that racial discrimination is not practiced in our institutions of higher education.” 

Rokita suggested some DEI practices may be in place at the universities. He pointed to efforts to “recruit faculty of a certain race” and “racially segregated graduation ceremonies” at Notre Dame and “various race-based activities and practices in which Butler may engage or has engaged that may violate state and federal civil rights laws.”

Rokita’s follow-up letters to both universities express his dissatisfaction with their respective responses to his inquiries. He’s asked for a full response from Notre Dame by Aug. 27 and from Butler by Sept. 3.

The attorney general said in June that he was scrutinizing DEI policies at DePauw University.

Several of Indiana’s public institutions have halted DEI initiatives to meet new state and federal guidelines, including Indiana University, Purdue University and Ball State University.

Gov. Mike Braun signed an executive order in January to remove DEI policies from state government. President Donald Trump took similar action on the federal level.