University of North Carolina BARS ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ Statements in Admissions and Hiring

Florida has led the way in holding educational institutions accountable financially and operationally for so-called diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.

Governor Ron DeSantis earlier this month announced the elimination of funding for DEI programs in public universities in his state.

If the U.S. Supreme Court declares race-based college admissions unconstitutional, perhaps more states will ban DEI programs at taxpayer-support institutions. And, perhaps, North Carolina will start the trend.

The University of North Carolina’s Board of Governors recently voted to bar DEI statements and compelled speech in admissions, hiring, promotions, and tenure.

The First Amendment protects the right to speak and not to speak. Compelling individuals or organizations to make public statements about their commitment to so-called diversity infringes on the First Amendment.

Mandating that individuals affirm racially divisive DEI statements also violates freedom of conscience. Individuals have the right to hold and express their own beliefs and opinions without coercion or pressure from the government or other entities.

The Board of Governors stated in a resolution that the university “shall neither solicit nor require an employee or applicant for academic admission or employment to affirmatively ascribe to or opine about beliefs, affiliations, ideals, or principles regarding matters of contemporary political debate or social action as a condition to admission, employment, or professional advancement.” More from the resolution:

An employee or applicant also can’t “be solicited or required to describe his or her actions in support of, or in opposition to, such beliefs, affiliations, ideals, or principles.”

“Practices prohibited here include but are not limited to solicitations or requirements for statements of commitment to particular views on matters of contemporary political debate or social action contained on applications or qualifications for admission or employment included as criteria for analysis of an employee’s career progression.”

That sounds pretty clear. Let’s hope other public institutions come up with similar statements.

Photo credit: By Dennis Ludlow – Sharkshock – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, link

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