The Virginia General Assembly passed a law nearly five years ago requiring some public universities to develop a scholarship for descendants of enslaved Virginians. That legislation specifically targeted those colleges whose foundational success was based on the labor of enslaved individuals.
Virginia Commonwealth University recently launched its scholarship, known as the Gabriel Scholars Program. But the scope of the award has changed due to anti-diversity, equity and inclusion policies issued by President Donald Trump’s administration, according to emails obtained by VPM News.
VCU officials previously cited federal orders to roll back DEI programs on college campuses in its decision to remove references to race in at least seven scholarships, and hired Richmond law firm Cozen O’Connor to review the language of 60 additional awards…