GOP slashes UW budget by $32M over DEI support.

Republican Lawmakers Vote to Cut University of Wisconsin’s Budget

Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin made a controversial decision on Thursday, voting to cut $32 million from the University of Wisconsin’s budget. The reason behind this drastic measure? The university’s promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

According to state lawmakers, the $32 million cut represents the amount spent by the university system on DEI initiatives. Their intention is to completely eliminate these programs. However, there is a possibility for the university to regain the funding if it can demonstrate that the money will be used for workforce development instead of DEI programs, as reported by the Associated Press.

A Battle of Ideologies

This decision is just one episode in an ongoing battle between the university, the state’s Republican legislature, and Democratic Governor Tony Evers. Governor Evers has vowed to veto any budget that cuts diversity funding from the state’s premier university system.

Democratic Representative Evan Goyke strongly criticized the plan, calling it “garbage” and emphasizing the negative message it sends to communities of color in Wisconsin.

The university’s president, Jay Rothman, also expressed his disapproval of the budget cut. He believes that reducing state investment will hinder student access and affordability at public universities, ultimately impeding Wisconsin’s efforts to attract talented individuals.

Controversial DEI Initiatives

One of the DEI initiatives promoted by UW-Madison’s Diversity Inventory is “Citational Justice,” which encourages students to prioritize sources based on the racial or sexual identity of the author rather than their merit, reliability, or relevance.

Another program highlighted by the UW-Madison Diversity Inventory is the Coalition for Leading Anti-Racist Schools. This program aims to challenge and dismantle long-standing norms and practices rooted in whiteness.

Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos criticized DEI efforts, stating that they have become a new religion for the left. He believes that taxpayers should not be funding initiatives that promote a single acceptable viewpoint.

The Impact on University Finances

The $32 million cut in subsidies will likely result in increased tuition costs for students. University officials argue that this reduction in funding, combined with a financial crisis caused by a tuition freeze and increased spending, leaves them with no choice but to raise tuition.

Despite the budget cut, the head of the Madison campus, Jennifer Mnookin, expressed her support for DEI employees, recognizing their critical role on campus.

University officials had requested a $500 million increase in the budget, but Governor Evers’ proposal of a $300 million increase was deemed insufficient by many university officials.

As of now, the university has not announced any plans to reduce spending on DEI initiatives.