Rep. Yunker: PSU needs Civil Rights Investigation

Rep. Yunker Calls for Civil Rights Investigation of Portland State University
By Oregon State Representative Dwayne Yunker,

GRANTS PASS, Ore. – Representative Dwayne Yunker (R-Grants Pass) today issued a formal letter to Ben Cannon, Executive Director of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC), demanding an investigation into whether Portland State University (PSU) is violating state and federal civil rights laws.

The inquiry specifically cites the PSU Office of Academic Innovation’s promotion of the book Culture Clash as a Faculty Book Club selection for Spring 2026. Yunker argues that using state resources to encourage faculty to adopt racial stereotyping creates a hostile educational environment in direct conflict with established civil rights protections.

“The Legislative Assembly maintained PSU’s funding during the 2026 short session as an act of trust. It is a profound violation of that trust to use state resources to promote professional development that relies on divisive and disparaging racial stereotypes,” said Representative Yunker.

“As the HECC prepares the HB 4124 report on program financial viability and drafts the budget ask for the next biennium, we must scrutinize whether these administrative offices are a responsible use of taxpayer dollars. PSU is encouraging faculty to view students through reductive racial lenses, which stands in total opposition to the principles of equity and fair treatment,” Representative Yunker continued.

“We work for the people, and they deserve an immediate investigation into whether these programs violate civil rights protections by characterizing a large segment of Oregon’s student population in uniformly negative terms. The era of ‘automatic’ funding renewals is over; future investment must be contingent upon statutory compliance and institutional integrity,” said Representative Yunker.