The Texas Senate approved a bill Wednesday that would require universities to close their diversity, equity and inclusion offices. It would also ban mandatory diversity training and restrict hiring departments from asking for diversity statements.
has not treated the issue with the same urgency. None of the six bills that Texas lawmakers have filed in the House targeting diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education had received a committee hearing as of Wednesday. House lawmakers did attach a provision to their version of the state budget earlier this month banning state funds from going toward DEI offices and programs, despite pleas from Democrats to remove it.
Universities that violate the law could lose state funds for a year. The legislation would also allow students and employees to sue schools if they’re forced to participate in any DEI training. Creighton and other Senate Republicans criticized diversity statements as “loyalty oaths.” Faculty have rejected that characterization as inaccurate. Diversity statements are typically one- to two-page letters in which job candidates are asked to share their experiences working with diverse populations and their commitment to helping a diverse group of students succeed.
“If you want to fix this problem, let’s get surgical about it. Let's not take a sledgehammer to something we can fix with a scalpel,” said Sen. “We have to pursue a different route on our aligned goal to achieve diversity. We have to pursue a different route on our aligned goal for equal dignity for all,” he said.
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