Wyoming governor gives university DEI a lifeline
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon’s flurry of vetoes last weekend included something unexpected: a line-item veto that allowed the Legislature to ax $1.7 million in state funding for the University of Wyoming’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion but would allow the university to use its own funds for diversity-related programs.
In his veto letter, Gordon explained that the bill had “inadvertently put millions of dollars of federal grants that regularly flow to the University at risk” because the recipients of the funds must offer opportunities to “underserved and underrepresented populations” including military veterans, first-generation college students, Native Americans and people protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Gordon also suggested that the Cowboy State’s Legislature might be using an antiquated definition of DEI. “These grant-required inclusion efforts are much broader than LGBTQ+ or others that our Legislature may believe are the only populations for which inclusion efforts are intended,” he said.
DEI initiatives, aimed at preventing discrimination and ensuring equal opportunity, have widespread support throughout the U.S. but remain contentious for conservatives who criticize affirmative action and the teaching of critical race theory in colleges and universities. In January, former President Donald Trump told a crowd of cheering supporters in New Hampshire, “We will terminate every diversity, equity, and inclusion program across the entire federal government.”
It was more than just an applause line: Behind the scenes, a coalition of dozens of conservative groups is preparing to make the words of the presumptive GOP nominee a reality.
Before the line-item veto, more than 25 students, faculty and community members spoke in favor of DEI at a packed Board of Trustees meeting and an earlier public comment session. Nobody advocated for cuts to DEI.
Stephen Dillon, director of the university’s School of Culture, Gender, and Social Justice, testified about the potential effects of such defunding on academic freedom.
“A curious thing started happening at my previous institution. We started having an unbelievable amount of transfer applications from students in Florida ... they described themselves as exiles, unable to research, read, think or exist how they wanted to,” Dillon said. He expressed concerns that restricting DEI could fuel a similar exodus from the University of Wyoming.
However, as Wyoming’s Freedom Caucus gains ground, with DEI in its crosshairs, there is no guarantee that initiatives at the university won’t return to the chopping block. In University President Ed Seidel’s response to the governor, he voiced support for DEI programming but acknowledged the changing winds of Wyoming politics.
“We certainly will continue to value and serve students, employees, and community members of all genders, ethnicities, and backgrounds, and work to make everyone feel welcome. But the message from lawmakers, regardless of the welcomed line-item veto from the Governor, is that our DEI efforts must change, and discussions are underway to determine the best path forward,” Seidel wrote.