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Caste Inclusion In Non-Discriminatory Policy Of California State University Faces Opposition From Faculty Members

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Protest Over Move To Add Caste To US University
Protest Over Move To Add Caste To US University's No Discrimination Policy

Addition of caste is misguided overreach, mentioned a California State College professor (Representational)

Washington:

Greater than 80 school members of the California State College (CSU) have opposed a current announcement of the college to incorporate caste in its non-discriminatory coverage.

In a blistering letter to the CSU Board of Trustees opposing the transfer, the school members have written that the brand new coverage would unfairly goal a minority neighborhood for policing and disparate therapy. Including caste as a selected and separate protected class would apply solely to the school of Indian and South Asian descent, they mentioned.

“The addition of caste is a misguided overreach given the existence of complete insurance policies that already defend towards numerous types of discrimination,” mentioned Praveen Sinha, professor of accountancy at CSU, Lengthy Seashore.

“We can’t however oppose the distinctive threat that CSU’s transfer places on us as they add a class that’s solely related to folks of Indian descent corresponding to myself and hundreds of different school and college students within the CSU system. It’s going to create divisions the place they merely don’t exist,” he added.

The college members have written that there are greater than 600 CSU school of Indian and South Asian origin who can be rendered susceptible ought to the collective bargaining settlement be handed as at the moment written, in accordance with a media launch.

“As a college member of Indian origin, I’m effectively conscious that discrimination is a each day actuality for a lot of college students of various backgrounds, and there’s a sturdy mechanism to deal with all such complaints underneath the prevailing legal guidelines and the CSU coverage,” mentioned Sunil Kumar, professor of engineering on the San Diego State College.

“However this coverage change has been made within the absence of any scientifically dependable proof or knowledge. Reasonably than redressing discrimination, it’s going to really trigger discrimination by unconstitutionally singling out and focusing on Hindu school of Indian and South Asian descent as members of a suspect class due to deeply entrenched, false stereotypes about Indians, Hindus and caste,” he mentioned.

“We’re dissatisfied that the CSU school affiliation championed this transfer with out holding discussions with the school involved, even when three professors had alerted them means again in Might 2021. Of their assembly with these three professors on January 14 this yr, among the CFA leaders admitted that they didn’t perceive the complexity of caste and that they dropped the ball,” Mr Kumar mentioned.

Earlier, attorneys on the Hindu American Basis (HAF), Suhag Shukla, Samir Kalra and Nikhil Joshi, additionally despatched a letter to the CSU Board of Trustees, the CSU Workplace of Common Counsel, the CSU chancellor and the president of the California College Affiliation on behalf of the CSU school.

“It’s merely unfathomable how system-wide leaders and a college union, which is contractually obligated to guard and signify all of its members no matter their background, might negotiate a clause that may discriminate towards school of a selected background or religion, particularly the place present legal guidelines and insurance policies already present redress,” Mr Shukla mentioned.

(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)