The University of Alabama is the latest school to shut down its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices, following the lead of public colleges in Texas and Florida. These schools have eliminated programs that, they argue, promote discrimination based on race and gender.
The University of Alabama, a publicly funded institution, shut down its DEI offices at its Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and Huntsville campuses on Tuesday. This action was taken to comply with a newly enacted Alabama law that prohibits public institutions from promoting ‘divisive concepts,’ according to a report by the New York Post.
In March, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) signed Senate Bill 129 (SB129) into law. The law, which goes into effect on October 1, prohibits certain government entities and public schools from establishing or operating DEI programs and offices.
Under SB129, government agencies and public institutions are banned from promoting, endorsing, or affirming “divisive concepts,” which include the notion “that any race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin is inherently superior or inferior,” and the idea “that the moral character of an individual is determined by his or her race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin.”
The law also prohibits them from spreading the notion “that individuals should be discriminated against or treated adversely because of their race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin,” and the concept “that any individual is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive — subconsciously or consciously — based on their race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin.”
The law also grants state agencies, local boards of education, and public schools the authority to “discipline” employees who violate it, including the option to “terminate the employment” of those individuals.
Alabama isn’t the only state to enact laws addressing DEI initiatives in public schools.
Last year, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed Senate Bill 266, which prohibits state colleges and universities from using state or federal funds to support DEI initiatives.
Earlier this year, the University of Florida terminated all employees involved in DEI programs. Additionally, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer reallocated approximately $5 million that had previously been designated for DEI-related expenses.
In April, a similar ban on DEI initiatives in Texas led to over 100 job cuts across University of Texas campuses statewide.
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