(The Center Square) - Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said he is "taking the politics" out of education by ordering universities to cut taxpayer-funded positions that diversity, equity and inclusion positions.
The executive order issued by Stitt on Wednesday also bans the universities from mandating DEI training and disclosure of personal pronouns.
Universities have until May 31, 2024 to submit a report showing their compliance with the order.
“In Oklahoma, we’re going to encourage equal opportunity, rather than promising equal outcomes,” Stitt said. “Encouraging our workforce, economy, and education systems to flourish means shifting focus away from exclusivity and discrimination, and toward opportunity and merit."
Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, called the executive order "a threat to every economic development strategy in Oklahoma."
"Governor Kevin Stitt’s claim that ‘Oklahoma is open for business’ cannot be taken seriously by banning future business leaders from learning about diversity, equity, and inclusion on college campuses – and that is his goal," Boren said in a joint statement with other Democratic lawmakers representing Norman and Stillwater. The University of Oklahoma is in Norman and Oklahoma State University is in Stillwater.
The move uses students to "score some cheap political points," said Rep. Annie Menz, D-Norman.
"Trying to swindle college kids out of their opportunity to interact with and understand that diversity is absurd and futile," Menz said. "Additionally, this action will have a negative impact on faculty and staff at our universities but also on students with disabilities, international students, veterans, and so many others who rely on these services to support their education."
Others backed Stitt's order.
"Unfortunately, programs and policies operating under the guise of diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly in our universities, have been shown to neither achieve meaningful diversity nor prepare our students for work and citizenship," said Brett Farley, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Oklahoma. "Instead of giving opportunity to the underserved, they've given rise to religious intolerance and created a chilling effect on the free exercise and expression of strongly held religious faith and moral principles."
Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, has filed four bills that would ban DEI practices in state universities.
"If an employee of our universities or colleges would discriminate against or favor one student or faculty member over another based-on race, gender, pronouns, religion, or other reason apart from merit, they should be terminated immediately and replaced with someone that understands the protections against this our US Constitution gives each and every citizen," Standridge said Wednesday.
via Oklahoma's Center Square News