Oklahoma Republican legislators filed a concurrent resolution Thursday to defund state-funded higher education if institutions do not immediately remove Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs.
In a press release, Sen. Rob Standridge (R-Norman) called for taxpayer dollars directed toward institutions with DEI programs to be repossessed and allocated to other educational entities that don’t have such programs.
“DEI is better understood by the taxpayers of Oklahoma as Divide, Exclude and Indoctrinate, and is in opposition to the principle of equality and the closely held beliefs that reflect the overwhelming majority of taxpaying Oklahomans,” Standridge said.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 12 directs state-funded universities to immediately and wholly remove DEI from their institutions. Rep. Justin Humphrey (R-Lane) accuses Oklahoma colleges of discriminating against students who “tow the DEI and leftist line”.
Sen. Nathan Dahm (R-Broken Arrow) called out universities in Oklahoma for ignoring Constitutional equality.
“We look forward to when our colleges return from institutions of indoctrination back to institutions of higher learning,” Dahm said.
Rep. Jacob Rosecrants (D-Norman) weighed in on the resolution and noted that he and Standridge share many constituents. In a statement to OU Daily, Rosecrants accused elected officials like Standridge for “gaslighting taxpayers” for a political agenda.
“The statements made by these officials within Senate Concurrent Resolution 12 aren’t attached to any kind of reality,” Rosecrants wrote. “How sad that these same elected officials seem very proud to stand for sameness, inequity and exclusion.”
Sen. Mary Boren (D-Norman) notes that some “conservative colleges” have DEI programs and that SCR 12 is attempting to push a radical agenda.
Lots of conservative colleges have DE&I including Liberty University, Oklahoma Baptist University, Baylor & Oklahoma ChristianThere may be room for improving DE&I but categorically Banning it reveals a chaotic & radical agenda to re-segregate workplaces & colleges https://t.co/x1wpbrt8xS
— The DE&I 👍🏻 Senator from Norman (@MaryBorenSD16) May 18, 2023
Rep. Jared Deck (D-Norman) wrote in a statement to OU Daily that the contents of SCR 12 are a “direct attack” on humanity’s shared values.
“Cheap rhetoric sends a message across the globe that Oklahoma politicians are too weak to include and accept those who may appear different,” Deck wrote. “To our international and culturally-rich students, I assure you our systems of Higher Education are strong enough to welcome you with open arms.”
Editor's note: This story was updated at 12:07 p.m. on May 19 to reflect the correct spelling of Nathan Dahm's surname.
This story was edited by Peggy Dodd.
