Joining AFSA & ASU DEI Investigation

ASU Alumni for Free Speech Joins the Alumni Free Speech Alliance; DOJ Launches ASU DEI Investigation 

Good morning fellow ASU alumni,

We are excited to announce that ASU Alumni for Free Speech is joining the Alumni Free Speech Alliance (AFSA). 

AFSA was founded in 2021 with the mission of preserving the pursuit of truth in American higher education by equipping alumni to promote free speech, academic freedom, and viewpoint diversity at their alma maters.

”The AFSA Board is thrilled to add Arizona State University’s alumni group to the Alumni Free Speech Alliance,” said Tom Neale, AFSA’s Chairman Emeritus. “We have since grown to over 20 philosophically aligned alumni chapters and look forward to helping ASU any way we can as you advance these principles on your campus.”

“ASU Alumni for Free Speech is excited to join a national confederation of alumni organizations advocating for their universities’ flourishing,” said Joe Pitts, Chairman of ASU Alumni for Free Speech. “This partnership will enable us to further grow our membership and footprint among ASU alumni, working with the university and the Arizona Board of Regents to make ASU the best university in the world.”

Our work is more important than ever. Just yesterday, the U.S. Department of Justice launched an investigation into the prevalence of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices employed by ASU administrators. “The Division’s investigation will examine whether ASU subjects its students to illegal discrimination through its DEI policies in admissions, recruitment, scholarships, tutoring, and the provision of educational support,” said a statement from the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.

If you’re interested in learning more about ASU Alumni for Free Speech, become a member today. It’s as simple as filling out this form. Membership is free and gives you access to an exclusive set of benefits, such as access to our monthly newsletter, invitations to exclusive alumni events, and regular virtual and in-person membership meetings.

Now our primary objective is fundraising more dollars to facilitate at least two events before the end of the year. If you are in a position to give—or know someone who might be in a position to give—please contact us at asualumniforfreespeech@gmail.com. Donations are tax-deductible, and should be addressed to the 1912 Institute (with whom we have a partnership). Some additional links that may be helpful:

• ASU AFS Donor Tiers

• ASU AFS One-Pager

• Business plan available upon request

Recent news:

• Justice Department launches Title VI investigation into DEI programs at Arizona State University: The U.S. Department of Justice announced that it has opened a Title VI civil rights investigation into Arizona State University’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. The investigation follows undercover videos that allegedly show ASU employees discussing the continuation of DEI-related programs despite state and federal scrutiny. Federal officials say they will examine whether any university policies or programs resulted in unequal treatment based on race, color, or national origin. ASU has stated that it complies fully with federal law and does not discriminate in admissions or university programs.

• Rural practice is a better training ground than big firms: ASU Law alumna and ASU AFS Board member, Celeste Robertson, discusses how young attorneys often receive broader responsibility, more courtroom experience, and greater opportunities to serve their communities in rural legal practice than they would at large firms. Robertson contends that rural lawyers frequently handle a wider variety of cases and develop practical skills much earlier in their careers. The article highlights the growing need for attorneys in rural communities and makes the case that meaningful professional development can be found outside traditional big-law career paths.

• ASU researchers study the impact of data centers on neighborhood temperatures: New research from Arizona State University found that waste heat from data centers may raise temperatures in nearby downwind neighborhoods by as much as four degrees Fahrenheit. Researchers conducted mobile temperature monitoring around Phoenix-area data centers and found measurable warming effects in surrounding communities. The study is among the first to directly measure how data center operations influence local temperatures, and researchers hope the findings will help industry leaders and policymakers reduce the environmental impacts of future data center development.

Additional updates:

• New website: Earlier this year we launched our brand new website. You can view it here. The website displays our mission/vision, profiles members of our board, republishes all of our newsletters, and provides pathways for new members to join and current and prospective members to donate to our cause.

• Board: We recently announced our inaugural board, consisting of Sun Devils ranging from the class of 2015 to the class of 2023: Joe Pitts, Chairman (ASU ‘23), Landon Miller, Operations Director (ASU ‘22), Jen Springman, Boardmember (ASU ‘16), and Celeste Robertson, Boardmember (ASU ‘15). We are also pleased to announce that Sean Paige (ASU ‘85), one of our original cofounders, is joining us as a senior advisor.

• Membership: Interested in becoming a member or recruiting some of your friends? You can sign up to be a member here. It’s free.

• Upcoming events: Expect further details in the coming months on new events taking place this year across Arizona. We are planning to host at least two events in 2026.

Best regards,

Joe Pitts

Chairman, ASU Alumni for Free Speech