Oklahoma took a stand against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) last month. The state governor, Kevin Stitt, signed an executive order defund DEI efforts at public colleges and universities and ban it at other state agencies.
He said the measure would take “politics out of education” and encourage “equality of opportunity rather than promising equal outcomes.” Affirmative action itself has been banned in the state since 2012.
This last executive The order does not target student organizations, but does prohibit the use of state resources for diversity training and calls for a review of current DEI programs to eliminate any “non-critical personnel.” Oklahoma follows in the footsteps of Florida, Texas, South Dakota, North Carolina and Tennessee. when trying to brake DEI initiatives in public schools.
But public universities are not the only ones affected; this is part of a broader reaction to DEI that has become prevalent in many industries, from technology to academy to fashion. DEI supporters say these initiatives help everyone get ahead, especially marginalized communities that have historically been disenfranchised. Critics call DEI-related work a form of discrimination.
