He governor of florida Republican Ron DeSantis signed a bill Monday that ends funding to “promote” studies on racial diversity, equity and inclusion at public universities in this state, saying the rules are “dangerous political and social activism”.
The governor signed SB 266, which aims to end the teaching of courses known as DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), in addition to two other education programs, at the New College of Florida in Sarasota, a university where one The new conservative-leaning board of directors was formed earlier this year.
“If you look at the way it is implemented across the country, DEI is seen as standing for discrimination, exclusion, indoctrination, and has no place in our public institutions,” DeSantis said. Your intention to run for President of the United States as a candidate for the Republican Party, which is expected to become official at any moment.
“In fact, the DEI tries to impose conservatism and has used it as a facade to promote an ideological agenda, and this is wrong,” the governor delved into a press conference at the university, in which The new board, elected with DeSantis’ blessing, abolished these courses and fired the dean of these programs.
The rule stipulates that state universities review any teaching discipline “based on the principles that racism, sexism, and systemic privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to perpetuate social, political, and economic inequalities.” ”
DeSantis signed two other legislative initiatives this Monday, which, like the previous one, were approved in the last session of Parliament, and which, among other aspects, would allow Florida universities to allow students, professors or staff to sign up and take courses. prevent them from needing to lend their support. About DEI or other “ideological agenda”.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said Monday that the rules are “the first step in the destruction of academic freedom and freedom of thought, as dictators of repressive regimes around the world have done.” This is leading to an exodus of students, academics and administrators from the position.
“Banning ideas you don’t like, rewriting history to omit pieces that don’t fit your warped worldview, intimidating teachers and ending academic careers, and banning anything DEI — These are all steps that we have taken in places like Cuba, Venezuela and Russia,” Fried said in a statement.
Democratic Congresswoman Anna Escamoni, the first representative of Iranian descent in the Florida Legislature, recalled that SB 266 is based on another bill enacted last year that has been blocked by a federal judge, upheld by a court of appeals.
“This is a devastating law that targets diverse students like me and our ability to thrive in institutions of higher education. It also suppresses academic freedom and infuses conservative political conservatism into the classroom. But said it politicizes higher education and curtails freedom of expression.
According to the local Sarasota Herald-Tribune, a group of university students protested outside where the three laws were signed.
