OK Gov. Stitt Orders DEI Reviews, Cuts at Public Universities in the State

OK Gov. Stitt Orders DEI Reviews, Cuts at Public Universities in the State

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s executive order takes aim at diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices and measures at the state’s public universities.

“In Oklahoma, we’re going to encourage equal opportunity, rather than promising equal outcomes,” announced Stitt. “Encouraging our workforce, economy, and education systems to flourish means shifting focus away from exclusivity and discrimination, and toward opportunity and merit. We’re taking politics out of education and focusing on preparing students for the workforce.”

The public universities must review all DEI measures and cut non-critical personnel:

State agencies and institutions for higher education shall not utilize state funds, property, or resources to:

• 1. Grant or support diversity, equity, and inclusion positions, departments, activities, procedures, or programs to the extent they grant preferential treatment based on one person’s particular race, color, sex, ethnicity, or national origin over another’s;

• 2. mandate any person to participate in, listen to, or receive any education, training, activities, procedures, or programming to the extent such education, training, activity, or procedure grants preferences based on one person’s particular race, color, sex, ethnicity, or national origin over another’s;
• 3. mandate any person swear, certify, or agree to any loyalty oath that favors or prefers one particular race, color, sex, ethnicity, or national origin over another;
• 4. mandate any person to certify or declare agreement with, recognition of, or adherence to, any particular political, philosophical, religious, or other ideological viewpoint;
• 5. mandate any applicant for employment provide a diversity, equity, and inclusion statement or give any applicant for employment preferential consideration based on the provision of such a diversity, equity, and inclusion statement; or
• 6. mandate any person to disclose their pronouns.

State Sen. Rob Standridge (R-Norman) filed four anti-DEI bills “that prohibit the establishment of a DEI office or hiring or assigning of employees at Oklahoma higher education institutions to carry out DEI practices.”

But Democratic lawmakers in Norman and Stillwater, home to that one state school and Oklahoma State University, moaned and groaned about the move.

“This executive order is a clear sign that Governor Stitt has submitted to state Superintendent Ryan Walters’ agenda to attack public education and expel public education students from this state,” said Norman state Rep. Jared Deck.

That school in Norman thinks Stitt’s actions are wrong:

OU President Joseph Harroz sent a letter to students saying, “this news evokes deep concern and uncertainty about the future, and in many ways feels like a step backward.”

Harroz also said that while OU will comply with the order, “Make no mistake: At OU, we stand firm in our promise to uphold the core principles that make our university a beacon where the American Dream is available to all.”

Thankfully, Oklahoma State University has a different tune (can you tell I went to OSU?!):

Statements from OSU and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education indicated they would comply with Stitt’s order. The state regents’ statement noted, “We will continue to focus on supporting all Oklahoma students as they pursue college degrees and prepare to join our workforce,” while OSU’s said it would “meet our legal obligations while continuing to cultivate a welcoming environment for all students, faculty and staff.”

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