Kansas GOP lawmakers are currently contemplating a proposal to prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives on university campuses.
Lawmakers in Kansas are taking a different approach compared to other states when it comes to defining DEI. To avoid the need for agreement on this matter, they have put forward proposals. A vote is scheduled for March 21, shortly after the Senate’s approval of a $25 billion budget proposal that would require schools to eliminate mandatory DEI training. If passed, the proposed bill would prohibit universities, community colleges, and technical colleges in Kansas from making admissions, hiring, or promotion decisions based on DEI.
The bill utilizes the specific language, however, it specifies that institutions cannot mandate a statement regarding any political ideology or movement.
According to The Hill, the proposed legislation has passed the House with a vote of 81-39. Under this legislation, the state’s six universities will be required to eliminate certain programs and report to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and the Republican-controlled legislature’s leaders. Failure to comply with these rules could result in fines of up to $10,000 imposed by the state attorney general. Additionally, over $35 million in funding will be withheld from the universities until they demonstrate compliance with the legislation.
The issue of DEI has sparked a debate between the opposing sides of the political spectrum, mirroring the discussions in other states. The disagreement primarily revolves around the definition of DEI.
Representative Tom Sawyer (D-Wichita) expressed his reluctance to support a bill that penalizes universities for actions that are not clearly defined. He emphasized that terms like diversity, equity, and inclusion hold positive connotations for him.
Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins characterizes the bill as a straightforward examination of whether universities demand ideological declarations from students, job applicants, or employees. According to him, there is no need for a unanimous consensus on its definition. Hawkins remarked, “Everyone has their own interpretation, so achieving a universal definition is quite challenging.”
According to Sen. J.R. Claeys, who co-wrote the budget provision, the measure also compels higher education officials to cease using race-based considerations in their decision-making processes. This aligns with the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling that put an end to affirmative action at universities. As an adviser to Republican state Attorney General Kris Kobach, Claeys believes that the most effective way to elicit compliance from universities is to use funding as leverage.
In July 2023, legislation has been introduced in nearly 22 states to ban or limit diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in universities. The recent decision by the University of Florida to dissolve its entire DEI department has faced criticism from various organizations and notable figures. The NAACP and NFL legend Emmitt Smith, who played for the University of Florida, have voiced their concerns and called for Black student-athletes to boycott sports programs in response.
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