On March 7, the Alabama House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 129, which aims to reduce state funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. One purpose of the bill is to prevent universities from requiring students to affirm divisive concepts in class, but lawmakers and the bill's supporters say there are no specific examples of such issues at the University of Alabama. Not mentioned.
Several student organizations have voiced support for or disdain for the bill. On March 8, the Queer Student Association released a statement urging Governor Kay Ivey and state senators not to pass the bill once it returns to the Senate.
“Prohibiting diversity, equity, and inclusion would disempower underrepresented student groups and student resources, violate students' constitutional rights, and create yet another embarrassment for AL politicians.” The statement reads:
In contrast, on March 4, the UA College Republicans issued a statement expressing support for SB129.
UACR President Riley McArdle said in a statement, “The constant barrage of divisive concepts that have been foisted on students at the University of Alabama over the past several years is incredibly disturbing and quietly questionable. “There is a strong sense of fear among students who exhibit this.” A story that is forced on them every day on campus. ”
McArdle said he is required to speak on behalf of the Republican Party and that the DEI program does not align with “Alabama values.”
“When you come to Alabama, you have to live under Alabama laws and live by the values here,” McArdle said.
“Conflict concepts” in the classroom
The bill would ban state funding for DEI programs and allow public schools and universities to educate students about the idea that members of one race are responsible for the past actions of other members of the same race. , it would be prohibited to force people to affirm so-called divisive concepts.
McArdle said that when professors share their personal beliefs with the class, even on topics that are unrelated to the “confrontational concept,” students are “forced” to affirm the professor's beliefs in order to get a good grade. He said that there is a possibility that He declined to name the professor, but said some professors also said in passing that white people should feel guilty for Jim Crow laws.
But when asked multiple times if he could give specific examples of professors explicitly asking students to affirm divisive concepts, McArdle could not.
The Crimson White asked several others if they could provide evidence that UA professors sought student buy-in on divisive concepts.
Rep. Ed Oliver (R-Dadeville) has been working on a similar bill for the past two years focused on banning the promotion of divisive concepts in public schools and universities, but it never passed. Ta.
according to AL.comOliver held his first briefing on the divisive concepts bill in February 2022, during which he repeatedly made this point. critical race theory It was taught in K-12 schools in Alabama without any concrete evidence presented.
Although he was not the author of SB129, he was one of the bill's biggest supporters in the House.
“What first inspired us to consider the bill was an incident with a student. …With very little effort, you would be able to find the DEI statement you need for employment or for a particular class,” Oliver said. Told.
However, Oliver did not provide details of the specific incident or case. Instead, the bill's author, Sen. William Barfoot (R-Pike Road), said the bill should be submitted with “some kind of statement” before a final vote.
Mr. Barfoot's office did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.
Scott Jenner, a Washington fellow at the conservative think tank Claremont Institute, wrote the 2023 paper. report About DEI at Alabama universities.
When asked about instances where students were asked to affirm divisive concepts, Yenor said:WI didn't know of any such specific examples, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. We studied policies and personnel rather than specific incidents.”
Nicholas Davis, an assistant professor of political science at the university, said the bill seeks to address a problem that doesn't exist.
“Discrimination based on race or gender is already expressly prohibited by law,” he said.
Professor Davis said there was no way professors would have the powers the bill suggests.
“Professors have a hard enough time getting students to read the syllabus,” he says. “How on earth can we make students assert that they are responsible for a situation caused by a system over which they have no control?”
Amanda Edgell, an assistant professor of political science at the university, said the bill would create more problems for both students and faculty.
“I study dictatorships, and this law seems like a gag order,” Edger said. “Vague language prevents us from knowing where the red line is, creates a culture of fear, and negatively impacts academic freedom and free speech on campus.”
DEI passport program
When asked how students have faced a “relentless barrage of divisive concepts,” McArdle cited Student Government’s DEI passport program as one of his most pressing concerns. This program awards participation in his DEI events with points that help student organizations earn block seats at football games.
“The girls inside, [sororities] You have to get a good seat at a football game… unless you go to something like Trans Coffee Hour, you’re held hostage,” McArdle said.
“Transgender Coffee Hour” is not an actual program or event sponsored by the university or student organization. The university offers events focused on gender and sexual orientation issues, such as the “Cinnamon Rolls Are Not a Gender Role” discussion group held regularly in the Safe Zone Resource Center.
McArdle added that UACR members of sororities feel afraid to voice their disapproval of the passport program in their sororities for fear of being “ostracized.”
SGA DEI Vice President Vera Loia said the passport program is completely voluntary and participation is “encouraged.”
The program works by assigning: point value You will be assigned between 1 and 3 different events depending on the general classification of the event, such as whether the event is to listen to a speaker or discuss a topic with peers. Each student organization applying for a block seat has cumulative points and must earn at least 1.125 points for each block seat.
However, meeting the minimum DEI Passport points requirement only counts towards 11% of an organization's block seat application and is not required for application.
Roya added that there are no guidelines that require students to attend certain events, such as those dealing with LGBTQ+ issues.
“This means that points earned in any event can contribute to the organization's total,” Loia said.
McArdle said he doesn't attend DEI events himself, so he's not sure if students who oppose DEI misunderstand the nature of DEI.
For McArdle, there's a difference between promoting diversity and forcing it on students.
“I don’t think things like diversity and inclusion are bad things,” he said. “I’m all for campuses being as diverse as possible, but I don’t think that should be forced on students.”
Professor Davis said he hopes the university will do everything in its power to protect the academic freedom of its students.
“Bills of this nature are a disincentive to academics, many of whom are already in precarious employment, pit the public against institutions simply trying to educate students, and force students to fend for themselves. “I argue that it hurts students by treating them as children who cannot think,” he said. He said.