Public colleges and universities risk becoming more vulnerable to bias claims or losing
funding as Republican state lawmakers push legislation requiring them to ditch diversity,
equity, and inclusion initiatives.North Dakota last month became the first state to enact a law banning mandatory DEI
training and the use of diversity statements in hiring and promotions at public institutions
of higher education. That measure takes effect in August.Meanwhile, Arizona, Tennessee, and more than a dozen other states have similar measures
in the pipeline.Challenges to those measures are looming. After Florida lawmakers voted earlier this
month to approve anti-DEI legislation championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), the head
of the union that represents faculty at a dozen state schools signaled the bills could
violate his members’ collective bargaining or civil rights.DeSantis signed the legislation Monday.
Well, good.