Fair For All (FAIR) has filed a federal complaint with the U.S. Department of Education against Colorado State University (CSU). The complaint alleges that CSU violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Title IX of the Education Amendments by allowing instructors to engage in discriminatory teaching practices. According to FAIR, faculty members used a so-called “pedagogy of discomfort” in social work courses, deliberately inducing shame, guilt, and emotional distress in white and male students. Course evaluations reflected that students felt unsafe, judged, and unable to participate fully, creating what FAIR describes as a hostile learning environment based on race and sex.

In its complaint, FAIR argues that CSU not only permitted but continues to tolerate these practices, as one of the instructors named in the withdrawn study remains employed by the university. FAIR is urging the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to investigate, direct CSU to revise its policies, and enforce disciplinary action against faculty responsible. The organization also requests compliance monitoring and training to ensure that federally funded programs at CSU uphold the protections guaranteed under Title VI and Title IX.