Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs Being Closed Down
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Perhaps there is a God after all. The hideous DEI movement — Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion — after years of seemingly unstoppable growth as it slithered along the corridors of power, and spread its tentacles throughout universities and businesses, has now encountered unexpected setbacks. May they herald the beginning of DEI’s dismantlement. It is a pleasure to take note of them.
#1. On Wall Street there is scaling back of DEI programs, as reported on here.
Several major Wall Street firms are reining in efforts to promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion amid heightened criticism.
According to Bloomberg News, major banks such as Goldman Sachs, Bank of America Corp., Bank of New York Mellon Corp., and JP Morgan are reconsidering diversity efforts and, as a result, have been cutting them.
At Goldman Sachs, a “Possibilities Summit” specifically for Black college students has been opened to White students.
Bank of America, likewise, has opened up programs previously focused on women and minorities to everyone.
Lawyers advising Bank of New York Mellon Corp. are advising executives to get rid of metrics used for workforce diversity….
One legal case that’s closely watched on Wall Street is the American Alliance for Equal Rights v. The Fearless Fund.
The Fearless Fund, according to the report, gives money to companies that are led by women of color and are in their early stages. It asked a federal judge to protect its contest that gives $20,000 grants to companies run primarily by Black women.
The American Alliance for Equal Rights claims the contest discriminates based on race.
Ya think?
#2. More good news about education in Florida can be found here.
The University of Florida has fired all of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion office employees and eliminated the department, the institution said in a memo on Friday [March 1].
In a Friday administrative memo, the University of Florida announced its DEI office, positions, and administrative appointments would be closed and eliminated.
“To comply with the Florida Board of Governor’s regulation 9.016 on prohibited expenditures, the University of Florida has closed the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer, eliminated DEI positions and administrative appointments,” the memos states.
All DEI-focused contracts with outside vendors were also paused, according to the memo.
The Alligator reported that 13 full-time DEI employees were fired, and 15 administrative appointments were ended….
The battle has been joined. First, in June 2023 there were the Supreme Court’s companion decisions in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard University and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina, banning affirmative action in college admissions. And now there are Republican lawmakers in more than 30 states who have introduced or passed more than 100 bills to either restrict or regulate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Texas, Tennessee, and Utah have already done away with DEI entirely in their university systems.
DEI is now on the defensive. Things are looking up.