Extremist movements like these rely on deception, manipulation and dishonesty. They are intended to scare the base of the Republican party—as well as the general public—away from public schools that elites want to privatize.
At the higher education level, this is not just about ethnic cleansing, but also about miseducating white youth every bit as much as youth of color who are demographically ascendant in our state—indeed the majority attending our K-12 schools.
If you haven't read Dr. Emilio Zamora's petition, Protesting the Anti-Diversity Assault Bills, I strongly urge you to read it and by all means, sign it, as well. It has already garnered over 30K signatures.
Rest assured, my friends, that the struggle for DEI will continue. We know well that not only is Texas a battleground state, but that it could very well turn blue (Democrat). When? We do not know. According to Longman (2019), when this happens, it will "crush the conservative movement for good." The stakes are high for all concerned.
In the meantime, may our hearts not grow weary in the cause for social justice. I myself am encouraged and inspired by what I witnessed this session as unprecedented level of youth activism in our state. This youth demographic is in fact what the right seeks to suppress in great part because it is an emergent left (Kaplan, 2020). That said, a reactionary, new children's crusade is also in full swing (Lee, 2023). These are dynamic times, to say the least.
We must continue to fight the good fight.
As Emilio Zamora often says, "Even if we lose some battles, we are definitely winning the war of ideas and history is on our side." I couldn't agree more.
Sí se puede! Yes we can!
-Angela Valenzuela, Ph.D.
References
Kaplan, E. B. (2020). The Millennial/Gen Z Leftists Are Emerging: Are Sociologists Ready for Them? Sociological Perspectives, 63(3), 408–427. https://doi.org/10.1177/0731121420915868
Lee, J. (2023, March 6). The New Children's Crusade: Recruiting for America's Culture War: Powerful Interests are sending Texas youth out to do battle against LGBTQ+, Abortion and Progressive Causes, Texas Observer.
Longman, M. (2019, June 17). If Texas Goes Blue, It Will Change American Politics Permanently, Washington Monthly.
Texas Gov. Abbott signs law shutting diversity offices at public universities
The law comes as the Supreme Court later this month is widely expected to ban colleges and universities from considering race as a factor in their admissions decisions.
Montinique Monroe / Getty Images file
June 16, 2023, 7:52 AM CDT / Source: Reuters
June 16, 2023, 7:52 AM CDT / Source: Reuters
By Reuters
All state-funded colleges and universities in Texas will have to close their diversity, equity and inclusion offices under a measure signed into law by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
The law, which one of its sponsors in the Texas state Senate called the most significant ban on diversity offices in higher education in the country, comes as the U.S. Supreme Court later this month is widely expected to ban colleges and universities from considering race as a factor in their admissions decisions.
Under the Texas law, signed by Abbott on Wednesday, any public college or university that does not certify it is in compliance with the measure would not be able to spend state funds allocated to it.
It also mandates that state officials every two years through 2029 conduct studies to gauge the impact of the law on students broken down by race. It will look at the rates of application, acceptance, matriculations, retention and graduation, along with grade point averages. The law does not explain the reasoning for conducting these studies.
The law is the latest salvo from Texas’ Republican lawmakers and Abbott, also a Republican, and comes as critics assail diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, efforts as divisive or anti-white, while proponents say they can help people from different backgrounds learn to work together.
“Texas is leading the nation and ensuring our campuses return to focusing on the strength of diversity and promoting a merit-based approach where individuals are judged on their qualifications, skills, and contributions,” state Senator Brandon Creighton, a Republican who was one of the bill’s authors, said in a statement.
But Paulette Granberry Russell, president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, said in a statement that the bill’s signature marked a “sad occasion for all students at Texas’ public universities.”
“By dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and offices at these institutions, Texas lawmakers have chosen to prioritize a political agenda instead of the success of these students,” Russell wrote.
She said all students, regardless of race, benefit from having a diverse student body, and that her organization would not stop working for Texas universities to be increasingly accessible and inclusive.
All state-funded colleges and universities in Texas will have to close their diversity, equity and inclusion offices under a measure signed into law by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
The law, which one of its sponsors in the Texas state Senate called the most significant ban on diversity offices in higher education in the country, comes as the U.S. Supreme Court later this month is widely expected to ban colleges and universities from considering race as a factor in their admissions decisions.
Under the Texas law, signed by Abbott on Wednesday, any public college or university that does not certify it is in compliance with the measure would not be able to spend state funds allocated to it.
It also mandates that state officials every two years through 2029 conduct studies to gauge the impact of the law on students broken down by race. It will look at the rates of application, acceptance, matriculations, retention and graduation, along with grade point averages. The law does not explain the reasoning for conducting these studies.
The law is the latest salvo from Texas’ Republican lawmakers and Abbott, also a Republican, and comes as critics assail diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, efforts as divisive or anti-white, while proponents say they can help people from different backgrounds learn to work together.
“Texas is leading the nation and ensuring our campuses return to focusing on the strength of diversity and promoting a merit-based approach where individuals are judged on their qualifications, skills, and contributions,” state Senator Brandon Creighton, a Republican who was one of the bill’s authors, said in a statement.
But Paulette Granberry Russell, president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, said in a statement that the bill’s signature marked a “sad occasion for all students at Texas’ public universities.”
“By dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and offices at these institutions, Texas lawmakers have chosen to prioritize a political agenda instead of the success of these students,” Russell wrote.
She said all students, regardless of race, benefit from having a diverse student body, and that her organization would not stop working for Texas universities to be increasingly accessible and inclusive.
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