In a significant development, the University of Wisconsin System has agreed to a deal with the state legislature, worth $800 million, which necessitates a reduction in their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, as reported by the Associated Press.
The UW Board of Regents initially rejected the agreement, which proposed to provide the university system with $800 million for infrastructure development and employee salary increments, in return for a freeze on the total DEI positions within the system.
However, the board later reversed its decision, voting 11-6 in favor of the deal. This agreement also mandates the cessation of diversity statements on student applications and requires UW Madison to terminate a race-based hiring program, according to the AP.
Republican Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos expressed his satisfaction with the decision, stating, "Im glad they approved the compromise tonight despite reported last-minute lobbying by Gov Evers to scuttle the deal. We finally have turned the corner and gotten real reforms enacted. Republicans know this is just the first step in what will be our continuing efforts to eliminate these cancerous DEI practices on UW campuses."
The deal also stipulates the restructuring of 43 DEI positions to focus on "student success," with a freeze on diversity hiring until 2026.
Three UW regents, Amy Blumenfeld Bogost, Jennifer Station, and Karen Walsh, who initially opposed the deal, voted in favor of it on Wednesday, citing the need for more time to contemplate the matter, as per the AP.
However, Angela Adams, who voted against the deal twice, expressed her dissent, stating, "The very premise of this deal is a nonstarter. I did not join this board to be thrust into political gamesmanship. Supporting DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) on campus is not something we should be exchanging, in my opinion, for dollars."
The Republican-dominated legislature of Wisconsin had previously withheld pay raises for the UW System in October and reduced the systems budget by $32 million in June, equivalent to the estimated expenditure on DEI over a two-year period. In response, Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers filed a lawsuit against the legislature in November, alleging that Republicans were infringing on the state constitution and "obstructing basic government functions" by blocking raises.
Login