Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has repeated his stance on eliminating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) practices and offices from Texas public universities.
The governor responded to a tweet that showed a quiz question from the University of Texas at Austin. The question read, "Which group is most likely to violate others' rights with 'violence, deceit, irresponsibility, and a lack of remorse?'" The correct answer was "wealthy white men."
Abbott said an example like this is "exhibit A" for his position on banning DEI within universities.
"Exhibit A why we are passing a law to ban DEI in our universities," the governor tweeted. "We will take back our universities from the leftist."
Top Texas universities announced they are halting or pausing their DEI hiring practices after a directive from the governor. Three Texas bills that would ban DEI are currently filed in the legislature.
According to Inside Higher Ed, Texas senators are pushing bills that would effectively ban DEI. Senate Bill 16 advanced in the Senate already. The other bills, SB 17 and SB 18 are out of committee. One of the bills would prevent tenure of future professors and fire professors who “attempt to compel a student" on any sort of belief. The bill would prevent professors from teaching that a “social, political or religious belief is inherently superior to any other.”
According to the Austin Journal, State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R- Conroe), chair of the Senate Committee of Education, filed a bill on March 10 that would effectively ban DEI offices from Texas public universities.
"While every member of a university committee must be treated with equal dignity, so-called DEI offices are in fact the leading threat to true diversity and genuine inclusivity on university campuses," Creighton said in a statement that was tweeted.
The bill also blocks any public office that promotes efforts "designed or implemented in reference to race, color or ethnicity" and bans training or activities "designed or implemented in reference to race, color, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation," except those required under state or federal law. The proposed legislation would also prohibit universities from asking current students, employees, contractors, job applicants and students applying for admission for DEI statements or to endorse an ideology that promotes differential treatment based on race, color or ethnicity.
According to Fox Houston, public universities in Texas, including the University of Texas, Texas A&M, Texas State, the University of Houston and Texas Tech, have announced that they are halting and reviewing their DEI hiring policies, due to a directive from the governor.
"In order to ensure compliance with state and federal law, we will not support or use DEI statements or factors in hiring or promotion anywhere in the University of Houston System," University of Houston Chancellor Renu Khator said in an email earlier this month.
