DeSantis signs bill banning public money from funding university ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ programs

by Jacob Fuller

Vicky Arias, FISM News

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed two bills into law that will both prohibit federal and state funds from financing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in the state’s universities and ban higher education facilities from requiring students and employees to sign DEI compliance agreements.

According to a press release from DeSantis’ office, the bills, known as SB 266 and HB 931, are intended to “further solidify Florida’s position as the number one state for higher education.”

“SB 266 takes several steps to prevent woke ideologies from continuing to co-opt our state universities and state colleges,” the release states. “The bill prohibits higher education institutions from spending public dollars on initiatives that promote dangerous political and social activism, such as DEI initiatives.”

The governor’s release referred to DEI programs as “discriminatory initiatives” and stated that the use of public funds to promote such curricula will be banned.

The other bill, HB 931, restricts universities from requiring students and faculty to sign forced political allegiances in the form of a “political loyalty test,” including declarations that they are in agreement with DEI initiatives.

Those who oppose DEI programs view the initiatives as prejudicial in light of their teaching, which, in part, opposes the concept of being ‘colorblind’ with regard to race.

According to California Community Colleges’ glossary of terms, the notion of being ‘colorblind’ to an individual’s race is actually racist.

“Color blindness is a racial ideology that assumes the best way to end prejudice and discrimination is by treating individuals as equally as possible, without regard to race, culture, or ethnicity,” the guide states but quickly dismisses. “However, the term ‘colorblind’ de-emphasizes, or ignores, race and ethnicity, a large part of one’s identity and lived experience. In doing so, it perpetuates existing racial inequities and denies systemic racism.”

California Community Colleges are not alone in presenting this type of teaching, as many other companies and educational institutions across the country have begun using similar language.

The meaning behind the words ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ has evolved in recent years and many Americans haven’t caught up with the new definitions.

According to the conservative think tank, The Heritage Foundation, “three dissenting academics who are members of the Oregon Association of Scholars, drafted a ‘Cheat Sheet for Policy Makers.’”

The foundation continued, stating that “‘diversity’ is “[a]n identity-based approach to society; includes only those who agree with Social Justice, which is a violation of individual identity; enforced intellectual conformity; political quotas; an attack on merit and a form of soft bigotry.”

“Equity means ‘equality of outcomes plus reparations, which is a violation of equality before the law; a dismantling of the foundations of a free society; state management of society by redistributing resources, opportunity, and access,’ [and] ‘inclusion’ means ‘restricted speech and justification for purges, which is … an attack on freedoms of association and speech; an enforced separation of people by race (‘neo-segregation’).”

When he announced the new legislation, Gov. DeSantis said that “Florida is taking a stand for empowering students, parents, and educators to focus on creating opportunities for our younger generations,” stating that he is “happy to have worked with the legislature to get this important legislation signed, sealed, and delivered.”

DONATE NOW