March 4, 2024
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis showcases his amusement as DEI positions in the University of Florida face elimination.
Employees working in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) roles at the University of Florida are now without jobs after the institution decided to cut these positions in compliance with a new state mandate.
In a memo released on Mar. 1, university leadership explained that they are enforcing Regulation 9.016 from the Florida Board of Governors, which prohibits the use of state funds for DEI or any form of “political or social activism.”
The targeted programs are described as activities intended to induce or hinder government policy changes, actions, or functions, or those aiming to influence social matters where the university openly endorses or promotes specific viewpoints in communications, advertisements, programs, or campus events.
Following the removal of all DEI roles, the university discontinued the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer and terminated agreements with external vendors specializing in DEI. The $5 million previously allocated to DEI programs, including salaries and expenses, will now be redirected into a retirement fund for faculty members as per the memo.
Reported by the Advocate, 13 full-time employees and 15 administrative appointees lost their jobs but will receive a severance package covering 12 weeks of pay. Governor Ron DeSantis, in response to the announcement, voiced his approval on Twitter without showing concern for the significant number of individuals affected. “DEI is toxic and has no place in our public universities,” he tweeted.
DeSantis continued, declaring that he is pleased Florida took the lead in eliminating DEI and expressed hope that other states will follow suit.
J. Scott Angle, the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, along with Amy Meyers Hass, the Vice President and General Counsel, and Melissa Curry, the Vice President for Human Resources, affirmed their commitment to upholding universal human dignity despite the changes.
The memo emphasized the university’s dedication to creating an environment where various ideas and perspectives are embraced, fostering trust and respect for every member within the Gator Nation.
It stated, “The University of Florida enjoys a prestigious status due to the exemplary faculty who are devoted to teaching, discovery, and service.”
Efforts to restrict DEI initiatives in Florida have been ongoing, dating back to the proposal of HB 999, which sought to ban any programs advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion within the state’s higher education institutions.
Critics of the decision, including Congressional Black Caucus chairman Steven Horsford, have denounced the move. Horsford countered DeSantis’ remarks by stating that true toxicity lies in intolerance. Andrew Gothard, president of the United Faculty of Florida union, accused the actions of being a tactic to silence opposing voices. “This is an attempt to stifle student and faculty voices, and withhold support from individuals who may hold differing beliefs or express ideas that contradict the political leanings of elected officials,” he remarked.
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