Today was a big day in the Florida legislature, where GOP legislators are busy banning and defunding whatever they don’t like. DEI is the WOKE enemy of the moment. Professors who teach about racism or sexism need not apply.
TALLAHASSEE — As Gov. Ron DeSantis and his allies target “woke” ideology, the Florida House on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill that includes preventing colleges and universities from spending money on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
The bill (SB 266), which now will go to DeSantis, touched off a fierce debate about Florida’s higher-education system and campus speech.
“Diversity, equity and inclusion, like so many other terms adopted by the woke left, is being used as a club to silence things, to say that if you don’t agree with them, you are somehow racist or homophobic or whatever other word that you want to use to criticize people,” said Rep. Randy Fine, R-Brevard County. “The fact of the matter is these terms have been hijacked by those who want to use them to bully and use them to shut down debate, to actually do the opposite of what these words are supposed to do.”
But bill critics said diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are important and that the legislation will drive away top faculty members and students.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
The GOP is, using its power of office, to, control over the, people, if that’s not, dictatorship, then, what, is??? And the saddest part of this is, the people are, actually, condoning, this sort of, abuse.
And yikes
Sent from Elaine Barnett’s iPhone
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Counterpoint: I put this in a different bucket than the laws targeting academic speech. DEI for the most part is administrative bloat. It’s the Human Resources department on steroids. It educates nobody. If any money saved from ditching DEI positions goes to fund actual academic work, it is money well saved.
“administrative bloat”? How come there is so much concern about that ONLY when it comes to DEI? Have you ever seen the administrative overhead that universities charge to grants?(and those “indirect” costs were sky high before there was any such thing as DEI). Have you seen the staff doing PR and “important” things like inviting big donors to fancy and costly events and buying lists of students from the college board and other sources and sending 100,000+ high school seniors expensive mailings not once, not twice, but every single week for 6 months straight?(Looking at you, U. Chicago and Swarthmore)
And why? So they can look “selective” and reject a lot of them?
How about the “bloat” in the athletic department that spends years recruiting athletes and tons of money in “support staff” to make sure they stay academically eligible? While at the same time competing in an arms race with other universities to show they can have bigger and nicer and newer sports facilities. Or the overpaid coaches who get fired while the university pays off their years long contract.
But no, let’s talk about “bloat” in a DEI division that is very likely all of a handful of staff at most (and likely only 1 or 2 people)
It just reminds me of the Republicans being all upset about the debt they ran up via tax cuts ONLY when a Democrat is in office. Or in Casablanca “I’m shocked, shocked to find gambling is going on here”.
DEI is probably the least bloated department in most universities.
Never again will I set foot in Facist Florida.
Anyone remember the old Looney Tune shorts with the coyote and the sheep dog? They’d greet each other, then punch in to start their day, spend the day beating the crap out of each other, then punch out again at night as friends again.
The only difference is that at least during the day while he was punched in, the sheep dog really did protect the sheep.
Why do you believe this source? Let me guess – your right wing news sources posted it? I don’t see any sign here that Dems and Republicans are “friends”. I do see some old white men who are likely right wing Republicans standing there looking on with disapproval, just like you! Hmm…..
I happen to think that it’s far worse to see Matt Taibbi and certain others on the far left carrying water for Elon Musk and anti-trans, murdering leaders like Putin, as well as carrying water for right wing Republicans who hate democracy and gay and trans people but do seem to love white supremacists. But I totally understand why people who were willing to sacrifice the Supreme Court in 2016 (with an open seat and a 4-4 split Court) are so desperate to alleviate their guilt at having empowered far right legislators in every state, certain that nothing can stop them.
What’s to believe? This is a video showing Florida Democrats partying with Florida Republicans. So what are you saying? Anyone who votes Republican (or even third party, which in your mind is the same thing) is a vile degenerate POS to be shunned forever, but it’s perfectly fine to dance and party with the very Republicans who are literally striping women’s, Black and LGBTQ rights? How can you defend this??? Is there any limit to what you will defend elected Democrats for?
If you aren’t a right wing troll, then why are you re-posting ridiculous (and false) propaganda that this is Florida Dems “PARTYING” with Republicans?
The link you posted no longer even works. But before I replied to you the first time, I actually went to the link, and I noticed that while many ignorant people immediately expressed nonsensical outrage (many were right wingers who insisted it was all foolish Dems dancing), a very few were intelligent enough to ask for more information about what the video was. But the person who posted it NEVER gave more information!
And now the link has completely disappeared!
Why did you believe some random guy on the internet that it was “Florida Dems partying with Republicans”. Even though there was no “partying” going on. I didn’t know WHAT was going on, but it was not a “party”.
As I said, the link no longer works, so who knows what this was and when it was taken? But I find it very strange that you didn’t care. Do you not examine the veracity of evidence if it supports your view of the world? That’s the road to fascism.
I believe you still feel guilty for being completely wrong about how important it was to have a Supreme Court that would support progressives instead of a Supreme Court that empowers the far right to destroy progressives. And destroy the rights of LGBTQ folks as well. That’s on you. Own it. You made a mistake, as I did in 1980. Your reluctance to admit it makes your mistake much worse, and the hurt your mistake meant for the rights of LGBTQ people even more unforgivable.
So what’s your definition of what’s going on? A funeral? Music and dancing in the aisles makes a party to me. I’m certainly not seeing any animosity or hard feelings going on. Looks like they’re having a swell time. Call it what you want, but it’s a really bad look, which the replies from a lot of blue wavers seemed to agree with. You’re the one who thinks Republicans are barely a tenth of a step up from Hitler, so I guess you think dancing with Hitler is fine and dandy. YMMV, I guess.
And your crack about the Supreme Court is such a ridiculous non-seqitur I really shouldn’t even dignify it with a response, but lemme just ask you, how long did the Dems have between the leak of the Dobbs decision and the actual decision? How’d they do on that codifying thing? Did they even introduce a bill? Debate it? Vote on it? Anything? What did Obama do when he had a super- majority? What have Dems done in the 50 years since Roe was passed to codify it? I mean, other than Biden saying a woman shouldn’t have control over her body? (And speaking of Biden,incidentally, you can thank him for Clarence Thomas.) The Supreme Court is just a political game piece the Dems use to scare you into voting for them.
The link worked when I posted it and you admitted seeing it. That you want to deny what it clearly showed is on you.
The rest of your unhinged off-topic rant is irrelevant to me, but, again, I have to wonder why Diane puts up with you vomiting all over her blog like this. But, as I’ve been told many times, it is her blog, so her decision.
Ok, that’s enough, NYCPSP. No more exchanges between you and Dienne. No one wants to read them. Henceforward, I will delete your comments directed at her and her comments directed at you.
NYCPSP,
I said I would delete all exchanges between you and Dienne. They are too personal, too vitriolic, and do not add to the level of civility of the blog.
Diane,
If posting untruths is “civil”, and correcting untruths “uncivil”, then I don’t belong here anyway. Allowing right wing propaganda to remain uncorrected is, to me, not just “uncivil”, but complicit. I don’t think I can read someone posting a blatant lie and just say nothing, but I certainly respect your right to censor my replies and let readers believe that Florida Democrats party with Republicans. It’s your blog and I have appreciated reading it. I apologize for the bother of you having to delete this last post of mine, but wasn’t sure where else to comment. Thank you for the last many years.
NYCPSP,
I have asked repeatedly—for years it seems—to you and Dienne to stop trading insults. I won’t post any more of them. I think you are brilliant in your analysis of charter schools and would hate to lose your insights. But the put downs get too biting and personal.
I wonder what Florida universities will do to fight back? They should all walk out if law is signed. Will they do anything?
It will be sooo interesting to see if the # of out-of-state applicants to FL state colleges decreases. Out-of-state students pay much higher tuition.
My guess is that some students will avoid Florida and that Florida colleges and universities will not be able to hire academic stars.
My state, Florida, makes me so sad. I really can’t leave, nor do I wish to. But, it’s so discouraging to see what it’s become.
Hilton, do whatever you can to get this tyrant out of office
Shifting to private universities, specifically the free market University of Chicago. It has an Institute (Lumen Christi) that seeks to, “renew our civilization.” It has a relatively large staff (you can check out the diversity
and the male/female ratios in the photo array). The Institute’s Board includes the junior senator from Nebraska who is against abortion even in cases of rape or incest, for the death penalty, against affirmative action and CRT and against same sex marriage. The senator and former Nebraska governor is part of the Ricketts family who owns the Chicago Cubs and who are donors to one of Lenoard Leo’s funds (Jacobin).
University of Chicago President, Robert Maynard Hutchis, said the Catholic Church, “has the longest intellectual tradition of any institution in the contemporary world.” Is “intellectual” what one labels the views of Ricketts?
Is “intellectual” what one labels overt discrimination against women and people who are gay?
Yes, it’s an opinion piece, but this is what happens when DEI settles into the University setting…..distorted science!
You can read about conservative, Pamela Paul and her first husband, Bret Stephens, at the footnoted Wikipedia entry for each.
Let me guess?…..Catholic!!!! I don’t choose to read/not to read because of a person’s religious beliefs. I don’t know who Pamela Paul or Bret Stephens are and I frankly don’t care. Maybe you should live some life outside of the world of Wikipedia….where you seem to get ALL of your “facts” and information.
LisaM,
I know scientists who have pointed out various fraudulent information in this opinion article written by a conservative who you seem to trust implicitly. Why do you trust this conservative? Because she is white? This article included false information that the NYT already had to correct about Berkeley. (You can tell from the earliest comments).
The writer confused SCIENCE with HIRING PRACTICES!
The article she cites was rejected by science journals because the people who wrote it didn’t provide any evidence, they merely offered their opinion.
But it is very revealing when people are opposed to diversity because they claim that the white people who have been hired in the past have always been hired based on “objective merit”.
And only a non-scientist like Pamela Paul – certainly not hired on merit – could say that science has an objective standard of MERIT! It doesn’t. It has an objective standard of evidence and fact, which – and this will surprise you – people hired who are not white ALSO follow.
NYC PSP….You really need to seek some psychological help. Anyone who doesn’t see it your way is a troll, right wing nut, Nazi, fascist, racist etc. I’m glad you think so highly of yourself as the epitome of Democracy and righteousness. You really are a disgusting person. Now, go cry to Ms. Ravitch that someone has been mean to you on the blog….boo hoo.
LisaM
Pamela Paul and Bret Stephens don’t advertise that they have a plan to politically (culturally) advance their religious sect.
Standing as contrast, are the political donors and influencers in organizations like Lumen Christie Institute and the Catholic Information Center’s Leonine program.
The categorical differences reflected in my comments haven’t sunk in with tribalists, nor will they. Still, I’ll add another attempt to show their bias. Tribalists claim their religion shouldn’t be singled out because the sect includes people with different views. Simultaneously, their purported reasoning embraces the idea that all religious sects should receive similar scrutiny as if they are equal in political influence and impact.
The most popular conservative politicians and influencers (includes media) lie, egregiously e.g. Tucker Carlson. Fact checking what Republicans say and write about any subject isn’t worth the effort. Bottom line- they spread bigotry and carry water for the rich. Rank and file Republicans don’t call them out because they have souls to match.
Lisa M’s allegation at 4:11, “get ALL” provides evidence supporting my point about right wing liars.
I bet you’re real fun at cocktail parties and backyard BBQ’s….NOT! Get a life!
LisaM,
Your racism is showing. Claiming that diversity hires leads to “distorted science” has NEVER been shown to be true. That’s simply something that someone who is racist says because they believe as you do that Black and Latinx folks (it used to be women) aren’t smart enough to do “undistorted” science.
People are hired because the people hiring them feel MORE COMFORTABLE working with them, not because they met some standard of “objective merit” that CAN BE SCIENTIFICALLY MEASURED that meant they were demonstrably superior than every other applicant.
And I suspect you know that when a lot of white people apply for the same job and the one with the highest GPA is not automatically hired. That’s always fine, if they are all white. Somehow even candidates with a lower GPA can be just as meritorious, if that candidate is also white.
I’m glad that LisaM posts at the blog. She provides perfect illustration of a socio-cultural, demographic segment.
She is not alone in that. Others like me, do as well.
LisaM says:
“this is what happens when DEI settles into the University setting…..distorted science!”
Let’s be clear that there is NO EVIDENCE whatsoever – including in the op ed she linked to and the paper cited – that diversifying the ranks of those who are hired to teach science at universities causes “DISTORTED SCIENCE” as LisaM charges.
It’s the same excuse that kept women out of science for so long.
It speaks to the implicitly racist belief that a group of strong white applicants can be all considered “equally qualified” based on meeting a general standard, and people like Pamela Paul and LisaM don’t make ridiculous innuendo about how all of science would be distorted if the white applicant with the highest GPA or highest standardized test score was not hired because that person is absolutely the objectively most “meritorious” person, and hiring anyone else but that person would DISTORT the work of the place where they were hired.
But add some underrepresented minority applicants and suddenly these same people change their tune and insist that “objective merit” is real and not hiring “the best” would be ruinous.
I can’t help wondering if these parents teach their kids that “objective merit” is real, and tell their own children that they are “objectively” inferior to every kid who got a higher SAT score than them (but “objectively” superior to every kid who got a lower score). Or do they only believe there is a difference when the person with the lower (but still good) SAT score isn’t white?
Any scientist who claims that “objective merit” can be scientifically measured is not a real scientist. Choosing from good candidates who all meet a standard is the way hiring has ALWAYS been done, but always accepted when the pool was all white. Even folks who didn’t think it was right that the Trump children and Jared Kushner and other rich, inferior children were admitted over OBJECTIVELY SUPERIOR candidates did not claim that the presence of those clearly subpar students over more meritorious candidates would DISTORT the work of the university.
MENTORING is an important part of teaching. Making that a qualification that is MORE important than whether the white professors in the department feel comfortable with the candidate is fine with me. Claiming it would “distort” science more than hiring someone with connections who went to the “right” school is implicitly racist.
And claiming there is an objective “merit” that can be measured is something no legitimate scientist believes.
I just have to say that I am so in awe of you, NYC PSP! You are so smart and knowledgable about everything and everyone. I’m especially in awe of your super duper ability to asses my personality, political leanings, and voting preference via blog posts (WOW!). Thank you, from the bottom of my dark and evil heart for “schooling” me on the error of my racist ways and views. You are truly a gem to society….. you perfect Democrat.
LisaM says:
“this is what happens when DEI settles into the University setting…..distorted science!”
The ONLY thing I assess is YOUR OWN WORDS. You can’t defe4nd them, so instead you just post nastuy replies like this one.
Feel free to explain how finding QUALIFIED university professors who are committed to mentoring students who aren’t white is distorting science.
I am sure I will wait forever, while you just post more nasty attacks. You think you know my politics, and you don’t have a clue. I don’t like people who lie or make racist innuendoes. If you can explain why hiring people of color will DISTORT science, then feel free to explain it.
I expect silence or attacks. Your words speak for themselves.
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. I replied! Good night!
Thank you for proving that you cannot defend what you say – presumably because you know that any defense of your words is not possible without sounding like a racist:
“this is what happens when DEI settles into the University setting…..distorted science!”
I asked you to defend this statement and all you could say was “blah blah blah”.
At least have the integrity to admit you can’t defend it and you are sorry as you didn’t intend to sound racist. If LisaM believes her words should speak for themselves and that is how we should judge her true beliefs, then the rest of us can only judge for ourselves what she believes:
“this is what happens when DEI settles into the University setting…..distorted science!”