WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner issued the following statement in response to the non-binding opinion from the Office of the Virginia Attorney General dated March 4th concerning nondiscrimination policies adopted by many of Virginia’s public colleges and universities.

“I am puzzled why the Attorney General would authorize our public colleges and universities to discriminate.

“A decision on whether to hire, promote or offer admission should be based on whether or not the individual is qualified – period.

“I believe the Attorney General’s advice will hurt the ability of our colleges and universities to attract the very best faculty, staff and students, and damage the Commonwealth’s reputation for academic excellence and diversity.”

In April 2003, then-Governor Warner worked with the Board of Visitors and administration at Virginia Tech to reaffirm that university’s broad nondiscrimination policy after it was briefly repealed under similar circumstances.

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