Texas Governor Greg Abbott Signs Bill Banning Woke DEI Offices in Colleges and Universities

Ashley Sadler : Jun 20, 2023
LifeSiteNews.com

Texas' new law comes as the US Supreme Court appears poised to end affirmative action for higher education admissions nationwide.

(Austin, TX) — [LifeSiteNews.com] Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott last week signed a new law banning radical diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices in colleges and universities that receive state funds. The law makes Texas the second state after Florida to prohibit the divisive departments, which conservatives argue unfairly discriminate based on factors like race and ethnicity rather than merit. (Image: Unsplash-Pete Alexopoulos)

Under Senate Bill 17, signed by Gov. Abbott on Wednesday, colleges and universities may not "compel, require, induce, or solicit" a student, applicant, employee, or prospective employee to "endorse an ideology that promotes the differential treatment of an individual or group of individuals based on race, color, or ethnicity."

State-funded colleges and universities are also prohibited from granting "preferential consideration to a student enrolled at the institution, an employee or contractor of the institution, or an applicant for admission to or employment or contracting at the institution on the basis of the person's unsolicited statement in support of" an ideology promoting race-based differential treatment.

Institutions will be subject to periodic audits and will lose access to state funds if they persist in operating DEI offices. The law follows a February memo from the governor's office ordering colleges, universities, and state agencies to stop considering race in hiring.

READ: Texas universities scrap woke DEI statements following order from Gov. Abbott

Republican state Sen. Brandon Creighton, one of the authors of the bill, released a statement highlighting the measure as a means to restore a merit-based system to Texas college and university admissions...

"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," he said... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

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