Oklahoma is the most recent state to target DEI programs. What happens next?
Updated on January 10, 2024 at 5:20 PM EST and published at 5:00 AM EST.
OKLAHOMA CITY— Standing behind a lectern emblazoned with the words “Defunding Discrimination,” Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt issued an executive order aimed at “eliminating and dismissing” diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in state offices and agencies, including public colleges.
The Republican governor stated that it was a move to “take politics out of education” and eliminate “six-figure salaries for DEI staff.” Instead, the governor stated that educational institutions across the state should focus more on preparing students for college and careers.
Oklahoma has now joined other states, including Florida and Texas, in limiting DEI programming in higher education institutions. Proponents of DEI argue that courses and trainings play an important role in fostering understanding and inclusivity in academic and workplace settings.
“People are tired of talking about things that divide us,” Stitt stated after signing the order in December. “Let’s just help our children. Don’t worry about their appearance or how they identify. Let’s just help kids prepare for the workforce.”
Skye Latimer, a local DEI instructor and community advocate, is concerned that eliminating DEI training for both students and professionals will exacerbate the disparities felt by students.
“Diversity and inclusion gets a bad rap,” she went on to say. “Gov. Stitt’s point was ‘defunding discrimination,’ but I believe he understands what DEI is — and what it truly is — and why it is such an important tool for so many people.
“But I think he’s using this as a way to score political points instead of trying to actually help anyone,” she said.
Many Oklahoma conservatives stated that they wanted to eliminate state-funded DEI programs and dismiss personnel. Gov. Stitt’s order directs state agencies and higher education institutions to conduct reviews of DEI positions and programs, and then downsize what the order refers to as “non-critical personnel.”
The order also prohibits state funds from being directed toward DEI efforts. The order also outlines a number of actions, including the prohibition of DEI statements and the requirement to disclose pronouns.
Stitt stated that all agencies would be required to submit a report on their DEI expenditures by May.
According to Paulette Granberry Russell, president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, the long-term consequences of eliminating DEI programs in Oklahoma and other states have yet to be realized. She is concerned, however, that it will only have an impact on the quality of services provided to students from nontraditional backgrounds.
“I think what’s fueling this is a false narrative that leads to the mischaracterizations of the efforts to create a diverse, equitable and inclusive campuses and discredit the proven mechanisms that have opened doors of opportunity and helped historically marginalized students earn their degrees,” she went on to say. “These actions are simply rebuilding barriers for those who have historically been marginalized and overlooked. “They do nothing to help students.”
Latimer, 33, has worked with and conducted DEI trainings for several state agencies, and she is now concerned that she will be forced to cut those ties.
Latimer stated that some of the pillars of diversity, equity, and inclusion that she has taught revolve around everyone being able to share their own experiences and explain how
Latimer frequently compares DEI training to recognizing an iceberg. What is visible above the water are the physical characteristics that most people notice. But beneath the surface, people can have a variety of experiences, such as caregiver status, military service, socioeconomic standing, the type of homes they were raised in, and so on.
According to Latimer, some of her most impactful trainings occur when people begin to recognize certain factors in the history of another colleague.
“All these things make us unique and tell a beautiful story of our life and of our humanity,” Latimer told the crowd. “That is where we find intersectionality.”
State Senator Rob Standridge, a Republican from Norman, has also introduced four bills in the upcoming Oklahoma Legislature session to comply with Stitt’s order. Collectively, the bills seek to prohibit the establishment of DEI offices as well as the hiring or assignment of DEI employees at higher education institutions.
Despite DEI’s broader political and cultural impact, the financial implications for Oklahoma institutions may be minimal. Allison Garrett, chancellor of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, stated during an interim study on DEI spending in October that only 11 of Oklahoma’s 25 colleges and universities employ a designated diversity officer. DEI programs account for approximately 0.1 percent of state funding for higher education in Oklahoma.
