Republicans across over 30 states have initiated efforts to ban diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, with legislation already passed in Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah. Additional bills have seen progress in other states, aiming to dismantle what is seen as race-based ideological practices within higher education. The legislative push is documented in detail, indicating a widespread Republican strategy to reshape university policies.
Despite these efforts, the battle against DEI practices is far from resolved. Reports indicate that institutions are merely renaming their DEI offices to comply superficially with new state laws without making substantive changes. For instance, some schools have changed DEI office names to ‘Office of Access and Engagement,’ essentially continuing their programs under different titles. This tactic was highlighted in a recent New York Times article.
Welcome to the new “Office of Access and Engagement.”
With states banning DEI initiatives, some schools are renaming departments and job titles as a work around to try to preserve diversity programs. https://t.co/6Ms4NYUhBn
— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 12, 2024
Dr. David Bray, a professor at Kennesaw State University, critiqued this renaming strategy, stating, “It’s the same lipstick on the ideological pig. As soon as DEI was uncovered as political left, they now reinvent the language and have morphed into the ‘sense of belonging’ crew.” This suggests a persistent challenge in effectively curtailing the influence of such ideologies at academic institutions.
Commentary from Blaze opinion columnist and podcast host Auron Macintyre further emphasizes the need for more assertive action. He argues that while Republicans often secure political power, they seldom utilize it effectively to enforce substantial changes. “For too long, conservatives have engaged in politics as if it were professional football, something to watch for entertainment while sitting on the couch so you can complain about your team to the guys at work on Monday. But leftists understand that political power grants them the ability to reshape society,” Macintyre wrote.
This ongoing issue also ties into financial aspects, where universities maintain large endowment funds which, according to a U.S. News report, allow them to support DEI initiatives robustly. The report indicates that some of the largest U.S. universities hold billions in investment incomes, funding what some critics call “indoctrination camps.”
While some of the universities at the top of this list are expected names (like Harvard, Yale, Standford and Princeton, each having over $30 billion in endowment funds), most are state schools. Texas A&M has over $17.2 billion, the University of Michigan has just over $17 billion, Duke University has $12.6 billion, Washington University in St. Louis has $12.2 billion, and the University of Virginia has $9.7 billion in investment incomes, according to the report.
U.S. News Endowment Report Screenshot
During former President Donald Trump’s administration, an attempt was made to curb these funds through The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which imposed a 1.4% tax on certain private college endowments. Despite this, critics claim the measure has had little impact, prompting calls for increased taxation on university endowments to pressure compliance with state laws banning DEI. This tax reform is detailed in documents from the Congressional legislation and further economic commentary provided by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.
The challenge continues as Republicans seek more effective strategies to ensure universities align with the legislative changes intended to phase out DEI programs.
Read more about state efforts here.