NEW YORK (Diya TV) —A Hindu American think tank has filed a formal complaint against Rutgers University following the release of a report claiming “caste-based discrimination” in the university’s higher education system. The think tank, known as CasteFiles, disputed the report from the university’s task force on grounds of its evidence being unproven and anecdotal.
The report ‘Caste-Based Discrimination in US Higher Education at Rutgers’ indicates that some portion of students experience discrimination based on caste. CasteFiles dismiss these as unfounded charges, referring to the “flimsy anecdotal hearsay” evidence the report represents and further substantiates the unscientific narrative.
CasteFiles filed the complaint under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a statute requiring educational institutions to provide a learning environment free from harassment and discrimination. The organization chastises the task force for relying on “anecdotal testimony” rather than “systematic data.” “Five flimsy anecdotal testimonies are the basis for the task force’s recommendation for Rutgers to add caste as a protected category to its non-discrimination policy,” the release said.
It also put the blame on Co-chair Professor Audrey Truschke of the said task force and puts a charge of failure to protect its students against harassment and discrimination on Rutgers University. Richa Gautam, founder of CasteFiles, questioned the university’s decision to act upon the findings in a report by. “That raises questions as to why a university would go against equal treatment clauses to release a report based on flimsy anecdotes—when it has a sizable population of Indian-origin students on campus and no data to substantiate any evidence of caste discrimination,” Gautam said.
The presence of previous complaints filed and lawsuits against Rutgers University, as noted by Abhijit Bagal, director of CasteFiles, appeared to chronicle their problems in dealing with discrimination and harassment cases. “Rutgers University may be a repeat offender,” said Bagal, who referenced recent studies and cases underlining the failure of this very university.
This task force report, coming last month, is the latest salvo in ongoing debates and initiatives over how to tackle caste discrimination within the US educational system. To some, these reports are necessary for recognition and subsequent action against discrimination, while for others, like CasteFiles, such reports misrepresent students if not supplemented by solid evidence.
A decision in this complaint could prove to be a landmark in the way universities across the nation handle such complaints regarding caste-based discrimination and broader debates related to caste-based policies in higher education.
