Florida bill targeting
The Florida State House introduced a bill this week that would prohibit state colleges and universities from using funds to “promote, support, or maintain any program or campus activity that promotes diversity, equity, or inclusion.” support the [DEI] or critical race theory rhetoric.” The bill would also give state boards of governors the ability to “remove any major or minor that is based on or uses teaching methods associated with critical theory.”
bill, HB 999was passed by the House on Monday and the Florida State Senate must now pass its version of the bill, SB 266, before it goes to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk.
Opponents of the bill worry that its language is too vague, and its use would restrict activities promoted by multicultural student unions, black fraternities and sororities, and courses in Jewish history, women’s education and LGBTQ+ studies. Can be done to install.
An official Analysis The bill offered examples of existing courses that would be banned under the proposed legislation, including Florida Atlantic University’s “Gender and Climate Change” and Florida State University’s “Social (In)equality: Difference and Inequality.” Social Construction.”
Oh Tweet Comedian DL Higley’s sketch of some other programs about Bill being in danger even went viral on social media.
While the bill does not explicitly ban many of the groups mentioned in the tweet, activists and lawmakers alike have expressed concern about how the language could be used to target specific programs.
When Democratic state Rep. Yvonne Hessenson was asked Monday how the bill would affect student centers such as “black student unions, pride centers, multicultural student centers and multi-faith advisory boards,” the bill’s introducers said: State Rep. Alex Andrade, a Republican, said that for the “vast majority” of the groups mentioned, “it doesn’t. The bill doesn’t apply to them.”
“Those student groups may continue to operate as they currently see fit, subject only to policies and procedures that are neutral and apply to all student organizations on campus,” he added. are.”
Democratic state representative Angie Nixon sought to amend the bill to offer more protections for certain groups she believes are at risk. His amendment was rejected by the House.
“Let’s stop going down this dangerous road of censorship and limiting free speech in our institutions of higher learning and get back to solving the problems that Floridians demand,” Nixon said. Tweeted After the bill was introduced on Monday.
Andrade tweeted on Wednesday that former state Rep. Carlos Guillermo, an opponent of the legislation, noted that Andrade was the only Republican to offer any discussion or clarification on the bill, writing that “the debate Hard to do while being yelled at and threatened. Angry liberals… DEI advocates hateful open debate.”
When Guillermo fired back and accused Andrade’s fellow Republicans of being “scared” of their constituents, Andrade Answered“It’s your brain on DEI.”
American Historical Association “We express our horror (not our usual “concern”) at the assumptions that lie at the heart of this bill and its open to principles of academic freedom and shared governance,” wrote in a statement condemning the bill. Common Attacks on Education in the United States.”
“This is not just about Florida. This is about the heart and soul of public higher education in the United States and about the role of history, historians and historical thinking in the lives of the next generation of Americans,” the AHA said. added.
Andrade, who apparently took to Twitter to promote the bill, tweeted a quote from former Florida Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, who publicly denounced HB 999, writing, “DEI advocates HATE open debate.” .
Android has also responded. Multiple Tweets Regarding various topics, “It’s your brain on DEI.”
