If you have been watching lately, you will see a major dustup developing at Texas A&M over the watering down of the terms of hiring a new proposed dean of its college of journalism. It seems routine enough, but read deeper and you will see that this is a sign of a major battle brewing in the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs that will be required by the recent law adopted by the legislature that bans all DEI programs in Texas public universities. The law is SB 17, and when implemented it will abolish the entire DEI bureaucracy and related programs, and as I have mentioned previously, it may prove to be the most important bill to come out of the recent legislative session. I have also written about the insidious nature of DEI, the agenda of which is disastrous for free expression, academic integrity, and the very notion of a university, and which has been fast becoming the organizing principle of the leading institutions of higher education in the country. And it has become so deeply imbedded in many of these institutions, including Texas A&M and UT-Austin, that compliance with the new law will require major transformation and policy reversals in hiring practices, contracting, research, and even mission. So this is more than a routine disagreement over employment terms; it’s the first blow of a transformation of objectives and values that will require years to unfold and, as I have suggested with affirmative action, will ultimately not be complete until we have completely eliminated “diversity” as a compelling state interest in higher education. As my favorite scholar on this issue, Heather MacDonald, says, “You can have diversity or a meritocracy, but you can’t have both”.
Good riddance!
I agree with you in all respects, Jim.
But, as with you, I think this battle is far from won.
Killing Dracula was far easier than killing this monster.
This is more on the order of defeating the educrat establishment in k-12. We have more resources in this battle and far more powerful allies, BUT so does this opponent.
The other side is deeply embedded and won’t go away quietly or quickly. And though we have the law on our side, what does that matter to this bunch? We had law after law in k-12, and they just waited us out for a more politically opportune time, thinking we would be on to other things, with our leaders retiring or being beaten. Recall after being ascendant and in power for 20 years or more, we got brushed aside in 2011 and have not recovered to this day.
Think of them as the enemy that’s ever-present, never goes away even for a holiday, is plotting all night, and will willing to fight all day. Can the same be said of our side, and for years to come?
No doubt about any of this, and isn’t it instructive that the only way to really deal with the problems presented by affirmative action, DEI, etc. in higher education is to fully address the tragedy for the kids who have been totally failed by K-12 incompetence?
Good analogy, Sandy.
We must continue to control the reins of power in Austin, or this great milestone could disappear quickly. The current fight over school choice is an example of that. Normally reliable conservative legislators are letting us down on this issue. Look for some creative court suits over the DEI law.
Thanks, Jim. This is the first step in an attempt to eradicate DEI from higher education that should in theory cascade into all areas of public education and state agencies. The key will be the timing and depth of enforcement of the legislation through the board of regents and administrative executives of these institutions with specific accountability and consequences for violation of the new law. Until I see actual layoffs and not re-assignment of personnel in these to be ‘closed’ (not renamed/rebranded) offices, committees and boards, I remain skeptical of actual intended effect. I see lots of court cases and legal expenses on the horizon while the DEI movement goes underground.
Weeds with thorns are very hard to remove however we in Texas will send a single Lone Ranger to stop a riot. One Ranger one riot.
Observation: Academia is the well-spring of all of this DEI nonsense. The DEI mind virus has been normalized by academics. Higher Ed institutions have long since stopped pursing truth. They are indoctrination centers. Very troubling.
The enemy is inside the wire. I suggest that we need to look very seriously at how academia is undermining our very existence and then take immediate steps to stop them. Why we permit public money to fund these “schools” mystifies me.
Meritocracy, open opportunity, is our ruling ideology. It gives everyone the ability to compete and succeed. If educators wanting to assist those that have the natural mental intelligence and are willing to put forth the effort to achieve, they need to provide the “ladders and/or pathways” to allow them to gain pride, have equality of opportunity, forbid discrimination on the bases of race, sex or other irrelevant characteristics, and award jobs through open competition. In my opinion this provides the most opportunity for social mobility.
Thanks, Tom. Good to hear from you.