Lawmakers introduced multiple bills in January aimed at outlawing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in state educational institutions across the country.

Universities often use Diversity statement, is requiring professors to figure out how to promote DEI in their schools, and many schools are requiring DEI training for faculty. Several states, including Texas and Florida, have outlawed the use of DEI at public universities, and several more states are currently introducing bills to address DEI. south carolina, Indiana and kentucky. (Related: Claudine Gay had a history of joining Harvard's diversity bureaucracy before becoming president)

“Campus DEI bureaucracy threatens the speech rights of students and faculty. These offices are used to promote campus legitimacy and suppress free speech and academic freedom. Students and faculty “DEI statements used to eliminate dissenting voices between political parties serve as a de facto political litmus test and are unconstitutional,” said Robertson, chief government affairs advisor at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). said one Tyler Coward. Speech Statutory Group told the Daily Caller News Foundation.

Kentucky's bill would prohibit public universities from asking students or faculty to support “divisive concepts” or from requiring them to participate in mandatory training to teach those concepts. The bill is largely aimed at banning diversity statements that require students or faculty to endorse ideological or political views in order to be eligible for employment or graduation.

The bill would also ban race-based scholarships and give those affected by violations of the law the right to sue educational institutions for damages ranging from $1,000 to $100,000 per violation. Become.

Kentucky's Democratic Governor Andy Beshear could veto the legislation, but Republicans have sufficient power to override it. super majority state.

Another bill in South Carolina also targets DEI programs and diversity statements.

House Bill 4663 would “force, require, induce, or solicit any person to submit a diversity, equity, and inclusion statement” or “diversity, equity, and inclusion statement.” This prohibits giving priority to the person who submitted the application. The bill would also make it illegal for state agencies, including universities, to open DEI offices and require existing DEI offices to close.

According to the bill, if a violation is found, the educational agency would have 180 days to correct the violation, after which the state treasurer would withhold the distribution of the money to that department or office.

The bill's author, Republican Rep. Thomas Beach of South Carolina, said DEI is “antithetical to the principles of American government, the ideas that should underpin any functioning society; It undermines the fabric of the community,” he told DCNF. .

“I've seen these ideas spread to young children at the local level and public schools, but also at the collegiate level at Clemson University and the University of Southern California. Both are wrong. In the end. However, I believe that schools that promote this ideology should not receive government funding,” Beach continued.

Indiana Republican Sen. Tyler Johnson introduced a similar bill in his state on January 9th. The bill would prohibit state education agencies from punishing or discriminating against students or employees of those institutions who refuse to support “divisive ideas.”

Divisive concepts include: that individuals should be treated differently because of their race or gender; that one race or gender is inferior or superior to another; These include teachings that are inherently racist or sexist.

Another lawmaker in Idaho is also considering outlawing DEI and plans to introduce a bill soon.

“The DEI Office is an act of systematic discrimination and should be abolished. Title IX and the Civil Rights Act do not require a DEI Office,” Republican Idaho Sen. Brian Rennie told the Daily Caller News Foundation. Told.

“For example, Boise State's Student Equity Center, which models diversity and advocates for equity, holds a Black Excellence Stall Celebration for Black students, an LGBTQ-only graduation ceremony, and an LGBTQ-only has hosted several racist graduation ceremonies, including the “Latino Stall Celebration.'' A Latinx student,” Renee continued.

Several university faculty have argued that DEI practices are crushing academic freedom on campus. Others say it makes campuses less accepting of free speech, resulting in ideological alignment among schools.

Ju-sim Lee, a psychology professor at Rutgers University, said states have the right to outlaw DEI because they believe it violates academic freedom and civil rights.

“Each state has a legitimate right to organize its U of State based on the principles it deems best, so long as it does not violate U.S. law or the academic freedom of individual faculty members,” Jussim told DCNF. .

“In general, in the real world (contrary to the ideals of some proponents) DEI (contrary to the ideals of some proponents) promotes (I believe) unlawful discrimination (primarily based on protections in U.S. civil rights law)” It also corrodes academic freedom, institutional neutrality, and meritocracy systems, and banning them is probably the lesser of two evils. “Yes,” Jussim continued.

But Coward warned that Congress could violate the First Amendment and infringe on academic freedom by restricting DEI on campus.

“FIRE has consistently told lawmakers that in addressing campus DEI bureaucracy overreach, the government cannot prohibit the teaching or discussion of DEI-related concepts on campus.” Coward told DCNF.

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