Kentucky House Moves to Defund DEI in Higher Education

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On Friday, the Kentucky House of Representatives voted 68-18 on a bill that would defund DEI offices in the state’s public colleges. The House floor saw heavy debate as GOP leaders argued against offices of diversity and inclusion while Democrats stood strong on the necessity for such programs. Language in the bill would also impact scholarships awarded based on race. 

Republican Representative Jennifer Decker spoke during the heated debate saying the bill would encourage a welcoming environment for all. Her Democratic colleagues disagree with her sentiment and believe that it will hurt minority students at state colleges. 

Before Governor Andy Beshear can sign it into law, the Senate must vote on and pass it. 

Students at the University of Louisville, one of Kentucky’s largest colleges, protested anti-DEI campaigns on Monday. They say they’re against any legislation that aims to restrict diversity offices in higher education. 

Nationally, around 30 states, including Kentucky, have introduced legislation attacking DEI. Three states have already enacted laws, and eight others have passed legislation in at least one chamber. 

Fostering a Culture Against Diversity

Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs seem to be on the radar for many GOP-led states. Some approaches have included passing legislation, but other states have used their education departments to establish rules and regulations on the diversity offices. 

In Florida, the state board of education voted to defund DEI programs at 28 state colleges and universities.

Governor and former Presidential candidate Ron DeSantis has said that there’s been a push at the collegiate level to promote “woke activism.” Republican leaders have co-opted the term “woke” to portray it as inherently bad, representing progressive values.

The NAACP has called for Black student-athletes to reconsider choosing Florida colleges when deciding their academic future. In a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker, the national organization states that it’s not about politics. “It’s about the protection of our community, the progression of our culture, and most of all, it’s about your education and your future,” Baker expressed.

Likewise, in Oklahoma, Governor Kevin Stitt passed an Executive Order that called for revisions to DEI offices in higher education. Stitt believes that offices created to boost diversity efforts cause division rather than unity. 

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Affirmative Action

Last year, the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action. This has caused an overhaul in several colleges including Ohio University which has paused granting race-based scholarships until they have a clear understanding of what is allowed. Affirmative action aims to ensure minorities have access to jobs and educational opportunities. The court repealed it on the basis that it violates the Equal Protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. 

Critical Race Theory

Following the death of George Floyd, many states were focused on a different acronym. Before a national push to defund DEI initiatives, states were more concerned about Critical Race Theory (CRT).

CRT is an academic theory created in the 1980s. It became a buzzword nearly 40 years later.

In 2021, Oklahoma passed a law prohibiting public schools from teaching CRT, which left the accreditation of two school districts in jeopardy. The bill restricts teaching that one race or sex is inherently superior to another. 

Many Republican elected officials believe that CRT teaches students to feel bad for systemic inequalities that are out of their control. Coined by law professor Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, critical race theory is designed to address racial disparities that persist despite numerous civil rights efforts. 

Tennessee has also enacted several laws that restrict classroom discussions on race and gender. One school district faced a legal battle against a group of parents who claimed the district had a curriculum that violated state law. 

During his presidency, Donald Trump signed an Executive Order that precedes most of these restrictive policies. The order titled Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping banned workplace training that America is inherently racist. The ramifications of this have bleed into Republican-controlled states that have followed similarly over the past four years.