U.S. Rep Andy Ogles, R-Columbia, Tenn., has demanded “an immediate compliance review of Belmont University” to determine whether the private Christian school in Nashville truly slashed its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs.
Ogles told U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon in a July 16 letter that the university rebranded its DEI programs, rather than fully complying with President Donald Trump’s “Combating Racial Ideologies in Higher Education” executive order.
A group of potential Belmont University students and their parents are walking away from the historic Belmont Mansion during a tour of the campus on Nov. 16, 2007.
Belmont shifted its DEI initiatives to its “HUB,” or Hope, Unity, and Belonging program, he said. School officials denied that they violated the law. According to Belmont University’s website, The HUB was established in 2022.
“We are aware of comments from government officials and maintain that the university is in compliance with federal laws,” a Belmont University spokesperson said.
Ogles called upon the Department of Education to review whether Belmont complied with the Trump Administration’s order. He asked the agency to clarify whether “cosmetic name changes” constitute non-compliance and lose federal funds as a result.
“Belmont University claims to be a Christian institution grounded in Biblical principles — but its administration is injecting anti-gospel DEI ideology into its curriculum,” Ogles said in a press release.
Ogles cited an undercover video obtained by conservative news website Townhall which appears to show a university employee discussing the school’s Office of Hope, Unity, and Belonging.
He said university officials made an “intentional effort to deceive federal authorities and continue promoting discriminatory programming under a new name.”
U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Columbia, gives his victory speech after defeating Democrat Maryam Abolfazli. The watch party was at Stan’s Restaurant in Columbia, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.
In the video, the employee claims that HUB operates essentially as a DEI program. However, Belmont University officials said staff members were not authorized to make those comments.
The Tennessean has not been able to independently verify the legitimacy of the video.
Ogles’ comments come as the Trump Administration has signed executive orders in an attempt to eliminate DEI programs, in addition to revoking the student visas of international students at universities throughout the country.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Rep. Andy Ogles asks feds to investigate Belmont University