News from the South - Alabama News Feed
University of Alabama under investigation for ‘race-based segregation’
University of Alabama under investigation for ‘race-based segregation’
by Anna Barrett, Alabama Reflector
March 14, 2025
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) said Friday that the University of Alabama was under investigation by the Office for Civil Rights for allegedly offering “impermissible race-based scholarships” and engaging in “race-based segregation.”
UA was one of seven universities facing the allegations. The OCR also accused 45 other universities of engaging in “race-exclusionary practices in their graduate programs.”
“Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin. We will not yield on this commitment,” U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a press release.
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Messages seeking comment were left with OCR and UA on Friday. OCR did not say in the release which scholarships are classified as race-based or provide any examples of race-based segregation by the University of Alabama. A list of undergraduate scholarships offered at UA does not include any with explicit racial components.
Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for civil rights in the OCR, sent a letter to universities on Feb. 14 to reiterate schools’ civil rights obligations to end the use of racial preferences and stereotypes in education programs and activities. The letter claimed that American educational institutions “have discriminated against students on the basis of race, including white and Asian students.”
The letter from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights called the existence of systemic and structural racism “a false premise.”
“Proponents of these discriminatory practices have attempted to further justify them—particularly during the last four years—under the banner of “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (“DEI”), smuggling racial stereotypes and explicit race-consciousness into everyday training, programming, and discipline,” the letter said.
The University of Alabama closed dedicated spaces for its Black Student Union and an LGBTQ+ resource center last year after the state passed a law banning publicly-funded DEI programs and the teaching of so-called “divisive concepts.” UA professors and students at the University of Alabama Birmingham have sued to overturn the law, saying it violates their due process and free speech rights.
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Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Brian Lyman for questions: info@alabamareflector.com.
The post University of Alabama under investigation for ‘race-based segregation’ appeared first on alabamareflector.com
News from the South - Alabama News Feed
Controversy Brews Over Former Garden Cove Site June 30, 2025 | News 19 at 6 p.m.
SUMMARY: A new health food project, Origin Foods, is stirring debate in Huntsville at the former Garden Cove natural foods site on Meridian Street. Charles Bryant, founder of Origin Foods, aims to revive heritage-based vegetarian meals inspired by his previous work at Garden Cove, emphasizing affordable, authentic nutrition. However, the original Garden Cove family, including Edna Sydney, claim they were never informed and worry customers may be misled into thinking they’re involved, labeling the project as misleading. Bryant insists Origin Foods is a distinct, respectful revival of the legacy but not a reopening, hoping to partner with local farms and schools to promote healthy, affordable food options.
There is some controversy over a new business opening at the Garden Cove site.
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News from the South - Alabama News Feed
City: Immigration operation won’t impact Gulf Shores High construction
SUMMARY: Federal agents raided the Gulf Shores High School construction site last week, arresting about three dozen undocumented workers. Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft stated the city was not involved in or targeted by the raid and supports enforcing immigration laws. Construction, managed by the contractor, resumed immediately after a brief shutdown and remains ahead of schedule. Despite concerns about work quality raised after the raid, the mayor dismissed them as speculative. The \$131 million school is still on track to open in Fall 2026. Similar immigration operations have occurred across the Gulf Coast, targeting undocumented workers, some linked to criminal activities.
Construction of Gulf Shores High School resumes after federal agents arrested undocumented workers. Mayor Robert Craft assures the project is on track. Read the full story: https://www.wkrg.com/baldwin-county/gulf-shores-high-school-still-set-to-open-on-time-after-ice-raid/
News from the South - Alabama News Feed
News 5 NOW at 12:30pm | June 30, 2025
SUMMARY: Amtrak will announce its Mobile to New Orleans schedule tomorrow at 8 a.m., including stops in Mississippi. Heavy rain continues to cause flooding on Government Street in Mobile, where drivers are urged to proceed cautiously. The Mobile Bay Pier will close Friday at 6 p.m. for Fourth of July fireworks setup, with the show starting at 9 p.m. Improvements at Foley’s Mel Roberts Park will include irrigation and sod on ball fields, funded by saved project money. A homicide arrest was made for a deadly shooting on Somerville Street in Mobile. Downtown Mobile streets will soon convert some one-way streets to two-way to improve walkability.
Amtrack has some big announcements, an update on a Mobile homicide, and torrential rain floods Government Street.
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