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In Boca Raton, Florida, the repercussions of a recent state law targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) on public campuses are stark. At Florida Atlantic University (FAU), the Center for Inclusion, Diversity Education, and Advocacy stands empty, with abandoned desks and LGBTQ+ flags, posters, and pamphlets left behind. Similarly, the Women and Gender Equity Resource Center has been rebranded as the "Women’s Resource and Community Connection Division of Student Affairs." To maintain their community, students have resorted to inventive measures, such as renaming FAU’s homecoming drag show as “Owl Manor.” Some faculty members, like Prof. Robert Cassanello at the University of Central Florida, have resisted, refusing to avoid discussing topics like institutional racism in their courses.
The trend of dismantling DEI programs is not confined to Florida. Across the country, there has been a surge in anti-DEI legislation, with 85 bills introduced in 28 states since last year. While critics argue that DEI efforts interfere with merit-based systems, proponents like Brendan Cantwell of Michigan State University emphasize that DEI programs are administrative rather than ideological, aimed at ensuring all students feel accepted on campus.
However, these laws are now encroaching on academic freedom, dictating what can be taught in college courses. For example, the Board of Governors for Florida’s state university system recently removed sociology from the list of courses meeting general education requirements, labeling it as “woke ideology.”
Faculty members like Prof. Michael Armato at UCF are concerned about the implications for their fields, fearing restrictions on discussing topics like race and gender. Armato remains committed to teaching critical subjects but acknowledges the growing fear among faculty about what can be taught and advised to students.
Students, too, are feeling the impact. Marissa Bellenger, a graduate student at UCF, was cautioned by a professor to be wary of discussing certain topics that might provoke controversy. This atmosphere of self-censorship is prompting some students, like Grace Castelin, to contemplate pursuing education outside of Florida to avoid academic censorship.
In response to these challenges, initiatives like "Education for All" have emerged to support DEI efforts and academic freedom. Leaders in higher education, such as Michael H. Gavin of Delta College, stress the importance of speaking out against restrictions on curriculum and attacks on DEI.
Despite the challenges, there are efforts to maintain DEI services outside of traditional university structures. For example, the University of North Florida dissolved its DEI offices, but OneJax, an interfaith center, continued its work as an independent nonprofit.
Carlos Guillermo Smith, a policy adviser for Equality Florida, sees public pressure and litigation as essential tools to combat censorship and control in education. Despite the obstacles, there is a strong commitment among many to uphold DEI principles and academic freedom in higher education.