Key takeaways:
- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced a plan to defund diversity, equity and inclusion programs in all public universities in the state.
- The move has been met with criticism from those who believe it is an attempt to limit the ability of universities to create a more supportive and inclusive space.
- DeSantis has yet to provide details on how the defunding would be implemented, or how it would affect existing programs.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced a plan to defund diversity, equity and inclusion programs in all public universities in the state. The move is part of the Republican governor’s larger plot to remake the Florida public school system into a hub for far-right ideology.
At a Tuesday press conference, DeSantis said the move is part of a list of higher education “reforms” his administration aims to carry out. This includes grounding curricula in “the history and philosophy of Western Civilization” and “course correct universities’ missions to align education for citizenship of the constitutional republic and Florida’s existing and emerging workforce needs.”
The plan has been met with criticism from those who believe it is an attempt to limit the ability of universities to create a more supportive and inclusive space for staff and students from marginalized backgrounds.
DeSantis has also been accused of using the move to stay in the national news cycle and rile up the most far-right members of his base ahead of a potential 2024 presidential run.
The governor has yet to provide details on how the defunding would be implemented, or how it would affect existing programs. He has also not commented on how the move would affect the quality of education in the state.
It remains to be seen how the plan will be received by the public and if it will be implemented as proposed.
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