Story perspectives

Colleges Prioritize DEI, Cut History; Students Still Misunderstand Constitution

5/10/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Colleges now require DEI courses for graduation and have dropped U.S. history or government classes.
Proposals from Samuel Abrams and the ACTA commission urge economics and a U.S. civics course covering the Constitution and civil-rights texts, while research shows DEI classes increase perception of prejudice.
ACTA’s 2024 data finds 60 % of students cannot name Senate terms, 48 % misstate war powers, and 31 % recognize James Madison as the Constitution’s father.

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Story summary

Colleges now require DEI courses for graduation and have dropped U.S. history or government classes.
Proposals from Samuel Abrams and the ACTA commission urge economics and a U.S. civics course covering the Constitution and civil-rights texts, while research shows DEI classes increase perception of prejudice.
ACTA’s 2024 data finds 60 % of students cannot name Senate terms, 48 % misstate war powers, and 31 % recognize James Madison as the Constitution’s father.