CNN
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis On Tuesday, he said he wants to ban spending money on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in hopes that state universities will “wither on the flag” without funding.
“It really acts as an ideological filter, a political filter,” the Republican said while speaking in Bradenton, Florida.
The proposition is prima facie DeSantis’ Higher Education Agenda This year, that includes giving politically appointed leaders and university boards of trustees more power over hiring and firing at universities and urging schools to focus their work on Florida’s future workforce needs. DeSantis, who is said to be weighing a 2024 presidential run, has seen his standing among conservatives rise nationwide following his public stance on hot-button cultural and education issues.
Video: DeSantis defends rejection of AP African American courses
A Press release Regarding the announced legislation, the governor’s office called diversity, equity and inclusion programs “discriminatory” and vowed to ban funding for universities, even if the source of the money does not come from the state.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs to promote multiculturalism and encourage students of all races and backgrounds to feel comfortable in the campus setting, especially those from traditionally underrepresented communities. The state’s flagship school, the University of Florida, has a “Chief Diversity Officer,” a “Center for Inclusion and Multicultural Engagement,” and an “Office of Access and Gender Equity.”
Tuesday’s announcement foreshadowed the announcement in December when the governor’s office asked all state universities to account for all of their spending on programs and initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion or critical racial theory.
DeSantis announced his higher education agenda in Bradenton, a 15-minute drive from New College of Florida, the public liberal arts college founded by DeSantis. Controversial new board with a mandate to realign the school to his conservative vision of higher education. DeSantis said his budget includes $15 million to renovate the new college and hire faculty.
The new board met on Tuesday, leading to protests on campus.
Eddie Speir, one of DeSantis’ new team members, wrote in an article Online posting At that meeting, he proposed that the school “terminate all contracts for faculty, staff and administration” and “immediately hire faculty, staff and administration that fit into the new financial and business model.”
DeSantis’ announcement follows a pledge earlier this month by the presidents of the state’s two-year community colleges not to teach critical race theory in a vacuum and not to “sponsor or support any institutional practice, policy, or academic need. Related concepts or systems of oppression, such as race theory or intersectionality.” should be the primary lens through which teaching and learning are analyzed and/or improved.
State Education Department Classified the move “‘Woke’ Rejection of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion [and] Critical Race Theory Ideologies.”
