Another “quick takes” on items where there is too little to say to make a complete article, but is still important enough to comment on.
The focus this time: The death of open DEI?
First, a little mood music:
Carrying on…
The University of Alabama is getting ahead of a coming anti-DEI law by preemptively shutting down it’s de jure offices.
“The University of Alabama System will terminate its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices following the passage of a state law that cracks down on DEI programs.
“The University of Alabama System revealed Tuesday that the main University of Alabama campus at Tuscaloosa, as well as the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Alabama in Huntsville, will be shuttering their DEI initiatives.
“S.B. 129, Alabama’s anti-DEI bill signed into law on March 20, bans ‘divisive concepts’ that teach that ‘any race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, or national origin is inherently superior or inferior.’
“Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said at the time: ‘My Administration has and will continue to value Alabama’s rich diversity, however, I refuse to allow a few bad actors on college campuses – or wherever else for that matter – to go under the acronym of DEI, using taxpayer funds, to push their liberal political movement counter to what the majority of Alabamians believe.’
“The University of Alabama’s decision to shut down its DEI offices preempted the law’s taking effect on Oct. 1.”
The University of Kentucky in Lexington similarly shut down it’s de jure DEI offices when criticized.
“The University of Kentucky in Lexington recently closed its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) office after state lawmakers claimed that it had a negative impact on freedom of discussion.
“The announcement was made on Tuesday by university President Eli Capilouto in an email sent to students and faculty. The Office for Institutional Diversity will be closed, but its employees will move to other departments on campus.
“Capilouto acknowledged that the presence of the DEI office made some feel that the university might “appear partisan or political on the issues of our day and, as a result, narrowly interpret things solely through the lens of identity.”
The University of Mississippi is following the trend.
“The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) is closing its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion department, citing a trend of state governments prohibiting public funding for DEI initiatives.
“‘With the establishment of the Division of Access, Opportunity, and Community Engagement, the university is evaluating and updating its Pathways to Equity plan,’ the school’s website says.
“The move comes after State Auditor Shad White gave a speech last month in which he blasted public funding for DEI.
“‘Unfortunately, my office found that here in Mississippi – me and you, the taxpayers – we pay millions of dollars every single year for DEI training at our public universities,’ White said in a July speech. ‘It makes absolutely no sense. It’s got to stop.’”
TTFN.
