Campus Reform Highlights Federal Complaints Triggered by ASU Video Showing DEI Rebranding
February 20, 2026
Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, faces two federal civil rights complaints after an undercover video appeared to show administrators describing how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs continued under new names.
Government watchdog Protect the Public’s Trust filed a federal complaint on January 28, 2026, following the release of the footage recorded by Accuracy in Media. The filing asks federal agencies to investigate whether ASU violated Title VI and the Equal Protection Clause by continuing race-conscious programming.
Protect the Public’s Trust later filed a second complaint on February 10, 2026, citing additional recorded statements from senior university officials.
The undercover video features Associate Dean Chandra Crudup of ASU’s Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions. In the recording, Crudup states, “It’s just not called DEI anymore, but the work continues.”
Another ASU official describes internal efforts to “rebrand everything” after the Arizona Board of Regents began reviewing DEI-related policies in 2023.
According to the February 10 complaint, the recordings raise concerns that DEI initiatives may have continued despite public-facing terminology changes.
Article 2, Section 36 of the Arizona Constitution prohibits preferential treatment or discrimination based on race or sex in public education. Arizona voters approved the provision in 2010.
Arizona State University denied wrongdoing in a statement to Campus Reform.
“Arizona State University complies fully with federal law and does not discriminate in admissions or scholarship selections,” an ASU spokesperson said. “ASU has since 2010 operated under a state constitutional provision that prohibits preferential treatment or discrimination. ASU has no comment on the video itself, as ASU does not comment on secret video recordings of its employees who are not authorized to speak on behalf of the university.”
Accuracy in Media President Adam Guillette defended the investigation.
“Accuracy in Media has investigated dozens of universities across the country,” Guillette told Campus Reform. “What we uncovered at Arizona State University are some of the worst examples of deception.”
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