Texas universities evade new law targeting elimination of racist ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ on campuses
A groundbreaking Texas law that took effect on New Year’s Day 2024 has sparked controversy and resistance among universities in the Lone Star State. The law prohibits the promotion of racist “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) initiatives on campuses. However, several higher education institutions are finding ways to circumvent the statute and continue pushing their preferential treatment of certain races, ethnicities, gender identities, and sexual orientations. By simply changing the names of DEI offices and positions while maintaining the underlying racist ideology, these universities are violating the new law.
The scrutiny of DEI on campuses began in February 2023 when Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s office issued a scathing memo questioning the hiring practices based on color or ideology instead of merit. The memo warned that such practices violated federal and state laws.
Abbott’s chief of staff, Gardner Pate, emphasized that renaming employment discrimination as ”DEI” does not make it any less illegal. He also stated that using taxpayer dollars to fund offices, departments, or employee positions dedicated to promoting forbidden DEI initiatives is inconsistent with the law.
In May, the state legislature passed Senate Bill 17, which prohibits academic institutions from using the DEI umbrella to bypass antidiscrimination laws and engage in discriminatory hiring practices or require diversity statements from faculty applicants.
The law also prohibits universities from promoting preferential treatment of any particular group and conducting trainings that emphasize race, color, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation without proper approval.
A Rose By Any Other Name
While Texas campuses appear to be dissolving their DEI offices and removing DEI requirements to avoid losing funding, several universities had already committed to disguising their DEI programs to continue operating without penalty. These universities have adopted vague language to push their radical Marxist agenda under a different name.
For example, University of Texas Dallas President Richard Benson assured that his school’s DEI employees and goals would not disappear but would be renamed to evade scrutiny. Similarly, University of Texas at San Antonio President Taylor Eighmy announced the renaming of the DEI office to the Office of Campus and Community Belonging while retaining the same staff.
University of Texas in Austin initially halted its DEI policies but later reaffirmed its commitment to DEI hiring practices. Internal communications from the university reveal plans to rebrand the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement as the Division of Campus and Community Engagement, continuing their pre-DEI law actions.
Other universities, such as the University of Houston Downtown, have also renamed their DEI offices to maintain their agenda under a different guise.
It’s Time To Lay Down The Law
Higher education institutions in Texas must certify their compliance with the law to state officials each year. The law also allows anyone to report non-compliant universities to the Texas Attorney General, who can take legal action to ensure compliance.
The Federalist reached out to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for comment on investigating and prosecuting universities that violate the law, but his office declined to comment.
Efforts to weaken the DEI bill by establishment Republicans in the Texas House were met with resistance. However, enforcement remains crucial to prevent universities from exploiting loopholes and advancing their radical DEI agenda. Texas Representative Brian Harrison is advocating for a complete ban on race-based admissions, employment, and contracting practices in public universities and government entities.
If the Texas law is not enforced, universities will continue to promote their radical ideologies. It is clear that mere reforms on paper are not enough; defunding these institutions is necessary.
“We’ve got to make sure that the law that we passed is enforced properly and universities must be stopped,” said Texas Representative Brian Harrison. “Quite frankly, I think we need to go further.”
Harrison has called on Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan to prioritize banning all race-based practices in the next legislative session.
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How do you prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace?
10 DEI Initiatives to Consider Benchmark the Company’s Current DEI Progress, Articulate Leadership-Level Support for DEI Initiatives, Engage in Unbiased Hiring Practices, Invest in ERGs, Support Mentorship and Sponsorship Opportunities, Offer Talent Development Programs for Underrepresented Employees Epartment of Inclusion and Equity, while continuing to prioritize the hiring of individuals based on their race or gender rather than their qualifications.
This deceptive renaming of DEI initiatives is not only a violation of the law but also a betrayal of the principles of fairness and equality that universities should uphold. It perpetuates a system of discrimination by giving preferential treatment to certain groups based on their race, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
Furthermore, these universities are using taxpayer dollars to fund these discriminatory practices. By diverting resources towards initiatives that prioritize certain groups over others, they are not only wasting taxpayer money but also undermining the merit-based system that higher education should be built upon.
The Texas law was put in place to ensure that all individuals have an equal opportunity to succeed and be treated fairly in academic institutions. It seeks to promote a diverse and inclusive environment where individuals are judged based on their abilities and qualifications rather than their background. By circumventing this law, these universities are undermining the very values that higher education should stand for.
It is essential that these universities be held accountable for their actions. They should face consequences for their violation of the law and be required to reevaluate their policies and practices with a commitment to fairness and equality.
Furthermore, it is crucial for the state of Texas to continue enforcing the law and monitoring universities to ensure compliance. The government should provide clear guidelines and oversight to prevent further circumvention of the law and protect the rights of all individuals within the academic community.
In conclusion, the controversial Texas law that prohibits the promotion of racist DEI initiatives on campuses has sparked resistance among universities in the state. However, several higher education institutions are finding ways to circumvent the law by simply renaming their DEI offices and positions while maintaining the same discriminatory ideology. This is a violation of the law and undermines the principles of fairness and equality that universities should uphold. It is essential for these universities to be held accountable and for the state of Texas to continue enforcing the law to ensure compliance and protect the rights of all individuals within the academic community.
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