University of Florida terminates all DEI employees to comply with state regulation

https://www.wcjb.com/2024/03/01/university-florida-terminates-all-dei-employees-accordance-with-state-regulation

Let’s understand what this really is about.  White straight cis people (men) being in charge without having to allow non-white people in to those upper level positions.  White straight cis have good easy management jobs, brown and black people do labor.  The LGBTQIA simply go back to being in the closet not seen or heard, women stay home.  It is white supremacy Nazi bullshit.  It is an attempt to roll back the gains of those not white, not straight, not cis since the 1960s.   That is what this is.  It is pushed nationally by Stephen Miller, a well known white supremacist thug even though he weirdly is Jewish, who thinks that he passes as white in the eyes of the whites.   He once complained in college for being required to put his own trash in the trash can rather than leave it where he was done or throw it on the ground.  That was the job for the … janitors he said.   We do know what he really meant.   He and DeathSantis, the people of this mind set, love to punch down.  They are also terrified of any changes to their privilege, and that is what they really want, white straight cis privilege over everyone else.  It won’t last this last grasp to return to the past, Florida schools are already struggling to keep students and attract decent staff.  Enrollment is down.  People paying for an education want a real education they can use in the real world, not a fake maga paradise.    See if you can count the lies, misinformation, and desperate attempt to deny the truth of what is happening in the quote below.   Hugs.  Scottie

“The University of Florida is – and will always be – unwavering in our commitment to universal human dignity. As we educate students by thoughtfully engaging a wide range of ideas and views, we will continue to foster a community of trust and respect for every member of the Gator Nation. The University of Florida is an elite institution because of our incredible faculty who are committed to teaching, discovering, and serving,” the memo stated.


Published: Mar. 1, 2024 at 1:52 PM EST|Updated: Mar. 1, 2024 at 6:07 PM EST
 

The University of Florida is firing all employees in positions related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) according to a memo sent on Friday. It follows the passage of a state law in 2023 targeting college funds spent on DEI.

UF officials say they have closed the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer, eliminated DEI positions and administrative appointments, and halted DEI-focused contracts with outside vendors. Officials say 13 positions were eliminated and 15 administrative appointments were ended for faculty.

The decision was made to comply with the Florida Board of Governor’s regulation 9.016 on prohibited expenditures. Approximately $5 million previously allocated to DEI initiatives will be reallocated into a faculty recruitment fund.

Eliminated employees will receive 12 weeks of standard pay and are encouraged to apply before April 19 to other positions in the university.

RELATED: Students worried how Florida’s DEI ban will affect programs

 
 
Ahead of the fall semester, Florida’s public universities are working to figure out what they need to do to comply with state law

UF’s Chief Diversity Officer’s website describes the office’s mission as charting the “inclusive excellence strategy for the University of Florida.” The site notes “Inclusion is one of UF’s six core values.”

The listed staff of the department are Marsha Mcgriff, senior advisor to the president, Farrah Harvey, assistant director of diversity analytics, and Wilma Rogers, executive assistant

State Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson, a Democrat from Gainesville, shared her opposition to the move hours after the memo’s release.

“I am stunned but not surprised at the elimination of DEI staff at the University of Florida, my Alma Mater,” stated Hinson. “The culture wars engaged in the Republican-dominated Florida House of Representatives will continue until Floridians have had enough and develop the will and determination to flip the majority in the Florida House.”

On X, formerly known as Twitter, Christopher Rufo, a conservative education activist and New College of Florida Board of Trustees member, announced the news of the firings and posted, “The conservative counter-revolution has begun.”

The UF memo ended with the following statement:

“The University of Florida is – and will always be – unwavering in our commitment to universal human dignity. As we educate students by thoughtfully engaging a wide range of ideas and views, we will continue to foster a community of trust and respect for every member of the Gator Nation. The University of Florida is an elite institution because of our incredible faculty who are committed to teaching, discovering, and serving,” the memo stated.

CORRECTION: A prior version of the article incorrectly stated that 15 administrative positions for faculty were ended. Administrative “appointments” were ended. The appointments are roles/duties that faculty members accept in addition to their regular duties as a faculty member.

 

Let’s say this out loud:

If DeSantis and many other Republicans are opposed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, what they’re really saying is that they’re in favor of White Homogeneity, Inequity, and Exclusion.

The south is still trying to win the Civil War.

 

If I were a black football player, Florida would be the last state I’d go to to play. Oh, who am I kidding, I’m white and in my 60s, and I wouldn’t go to Florida for anything.

That’s part of the problem. Minority students must learn that they are not wanted, and refuse to accept athletic “scholarships” to Florida schools.

Not to tout my alma-mater’s record on anything, but one item to its credit was that MSU was one of the first major universities to recruit African American football players, back in the 60s. It was an early DEI initiative that helped integrate college sports.

Southern universities were among the last bastions of white athletics. How quickly we forget our past.

MSU’s President, John Hannah, also took a global view of the mission of one of America’s first land grant universities, which included helping Africa. He was not afraid to work with black people.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/ne…

The fragile white straight male ego is on full display.

And Christianist authoritarianism in its service and vice versa.

And remember folks, the center didn’t provide services for children, but for adults

So basically, this is Rhonda Sandtits helping make it illegal to be LBGT

But hey, both parties are the same, right?

And not just LGBT. Also black, hispanic, Native American, Asian, or female.

 

Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus….

Episcopalians, Mainline (Jesus-follower) Christian anything…

Florida is today’s “Ground Zero” in the theofascist attempted takeover of the United States.

If their puppet, Donald Trump, reoccupies the White House, look for similar Diversity Program actions to become national policy.

Christian Nationalists standing behind a “FREEDOM FROM INDOCTRINATION” sign is the funniest thing I’ve seen from them this hour. What a bunch of hypocrites.

Can’t have simple human decency getting in the way of Governor Puddingmitt’s program of institutionalized white theofascist supremacy.

Here’s the kicker…if Christians were actually being discriminated against on college campuses, then these “Christians” would be for DEI programs as they would protect them.

DeSantis twisted and distorted so much of how higher education works, to service his culture war agenda.

So a purge of people that think differently than you. How stalinesq of you Ruffo

Now, now. There’s no reason to be dramatic.

They will only fire Black staff. And gay. And female.

This could get interesting; many federal grants (like those from NASA) have DIE requirements.

this is what accelerating fascism looks like.

Changing their name to the University of White Power.

Florida will continue to suffer from an epic brain drain and the money will follow.

Who needs diversity in Floriduh? Desantis is all the diversity one needs. White boots one day, brown ones the next. See, easy peasy.

 

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