Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has issued an executive order mandating that public universities across the state review and dissolve “diversity, equity and inclusion” (DEI) positions and programs, which he called a waste of taxpayers’ money.
“I represent 4 million Oklahomans as the governor. I’ve heard from all over the state that they’re just tired of wasting our dollars on something that tries to divide us,” the Republican governor said at a signing ceremony in Oklahoma City. “Use those monies to educate kids instead of trying to preferentially treat people based on their race.”
Under Wednesday’s order, state agencies and public colleges and universities are prohibited from using state funds, property, or resources to grant or support DEI positions or departments. Neither are they allowed to mandate any person to receive or go through any DEI-themed education or training.
The order also forbids those public institutions from requiring any person, including job applicants, to swear a DEI loyalty oath, to provide a DEI statement, to declare agreement with any particular ideological viewpoint, or to disclose their pronouns.
In order to comply with the order, public institutions must review spending on all their DEI programs and initiatives and “eliminate and dismiss all non-critical personnel.”
The order will not affect services that support veterans, first-generation college students, students from low-income families, students with unique abilities, or underserved student populations, according to the governor.
“In Oklahoma, we’re going to encourage equal opportunity, rather than promising equal outcomes,” Mr. Stitt said. “We’re taking politics out of education and focusing on preparing students for the workforce.”
During the signing ceremony, the governor also cited the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling this summer that declared the use of race in considering college admissions unconstitutional, arguing that schools should be accepting students based on merit.
“Encouraging our workforce, economy, and education systems to flourish means shifting focus away from exclusivity and discrimination, and toward opportunity and merit,” he said.
Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities will have until May 31, 2023 to complete the task. At that point, they'll be required to submit to the governor and leaders of the Republican-dominated state Legislature a report detailing which DEI positions and activities have been axed.
In a letter to students, Oklahoma University (OU) President Joseph Harroz said the order triggered “deep concern,” but nonetheless pledged to comply.
“This news evokes deep concern and uncertainty about the future, and in many ways feels like a step backward,” Mr. Harroz wrote. “Make no mistake: At OU, we stand firm in our promise to uphold the core principles that make our university a beacon where the American Dream is available to all.”
Oklahoma State University (OSU), meanwhile, simply said it would comply with Mr. Stitt’s order.
“We will continue to focus on supporting all Oklahoma students as they pursue college degrees and prepare to join our workforce,” the university said in a statement, adding that it would meet its legal obligations “while continuing to cultivate a welcoming environment for all students, faculty and staff.”
According to Goldwater Institute, an Arizona-based pro-free market think tank, DEI statements don’t increase diversity at college campuses, but instead reduce it by forcing job applicants to adhere to specific viewpoints.
To illustrate the point further, the Institution described a scenario where two candidates compete for a teaching post: Candidate A, a first-generation college graduate who worked multiple jobs over the years to help finance her education and therefore had little time to participate in political activism; and Candidate B, whose family wealth or financial aid allowed him to devote his free time to attend Black Lives Matter protests.
Under a DEI-focused hiring model, Candidate A would be “immediately disqualified and her resume would go unread,” the Institution said.
“Not only is that a poor approach to identifying the most qualified candidate, it can easily work against true diversity by ensuring anyone without a documented history of political activism is kept out of their chosen area of study.” the report said. “Requiring DEI statements palpably distorts the playing field as it chiefly advantages those with spare resources and time to spend on politically charged extracurriculars.”
