DeSantis explained that the intention is to reorient universities towards treating individuals as individuals rather than dividing them based on superficial characteristics.
DeSantis explained that the intention is to reorient universities towards treating individuals as individuals rather than dividing them based on superficial characteristics.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a legislation on May 15 that will halt the funding of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across all state universities.
“This is better viewed as standing for discrimination, exclusion, and indoctrination, and that has no place in our public institutions,” he said during a news conference in Sarasota via CNN News.
He said that if individuals are interested in gender ideology, they should attend universities like UC Berkeley, but emphasized that Florida’s focus is on the traditional mission of universities.
“There’s nothing wrong with that, per se, but for us with our tax dollars, we want to focus on the classical mission of what a university is supposed to be,” he stated.
DeSantis explained that the intention is to reorient universities towards treating individuals as individuals rather than dividing them based on superficial characteristics.
Senate Bill 266, recently approved by the Legislature, will enforce a ban on the utilization of state or federal funds by state colleges and universities for programs that support activism or endorse diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The law also mandates that general education courses should not distort significant historical events or include curriculum teaching identity politics based on theories of systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege.
The bill mandates several changes in higher education, including the requirement for the State Board of Education and the Board of Governors of the state university system to appoint faculty committees for the evaluation of general-education core courses.
DeSantis signed the legislation at New College of Florida, a liberal arts institution where he has been leading a conservative takeover by replacing the board of trustees members with conservative allies.
Additionally, the law grants university presidents and boards of trustees more hiring power, making them more accountable to the taxpayers of Florida.
The law is scheduled to take effect on July 1.
The bill is part of DeSantis’ broader efforts to target “woke” ideology in education and government investment.
DeSantis also signed House Bill 931, which will prohibit universities from demanding that potential students or faculty members pledge allegiance to any “ideology or movement,” including diversity, equity, and inclusion, as per NBC News report.
