Image Credit: Velocity Convergence
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
On February 14th, a report titled Critical Social Justice in Tennessee Higher Education: An Overview was released by The Claremont Institute, Idaho Freedom Foundation and Velocity Convergence detailing the rapid spread of Critical Social Justice (CSJ) in Tennessee’s 11 public universities.
Susan Kaestner, founding director of Velocity Convergence, said “This narrow ideological view is diverting universities away from their core mission toward a mission of leftist activism. It is also working to undermine the American way of life. Many of Tennessee’s universities and state colleges are dedicating themselves to this ideology.”
Highlights of the report include:
· All of Tennessee’s eleven public universities have university-level administrators dedicated to promoting DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).
· Four of Tennessee’s eleven universities have university-level strategic plans for promoting DEI.
· At least four of Tennessee’s eleven universities have dedicated DEI administrators at the college-level.
· At least eight of Tennessee’s eleven universities have dedicated DEI plans or DEI committees to promote this narrow ideological mission at the college level.
“Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is the administrative structure that is being used to strangle viewpoint diversity and promote radical leftist ideologies on college campuses,” Kaestner continued.
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Kaestner states that CSJ ideology presents a systemic problem with more administrators being added every year and more strategic plans that include goals about promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. More colleges and schools within the universities themselves adopt diversity statements and plans to expand this infrastructure.
According to Kaestner, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is nearly full-grown at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UTK) but it is growing throughout Tennessee’s higher education institutions.
“No one person is responsible for this trend. No one person can stop it. Those pushing this ideology hope to change Tennessee’s culture and its values. But this DEI mission does not advance the common good or the cause of knowledge. Reform is unlikely to happen from within. Only the Tennessee’s legislature can leverage change in Tennessee higher education. This is going to require a concerted and persistent effort,” concluded Kaestner.
Download the full report “Critical Social Justice in Tennessee Higher Education: An Overview” HERE.
Several legislators in Tennessee are sponsoring legislation on this subject that include principles taken from the Heritage Foundation’s model legislation.
Legislators include: State Senator Mike Bell, State Rep. John Ragan and State Rep. Robin Smith, among others.
Some examples include:
House Bill 2417 (HB2417) sponsored by Representative Robin Smith (R-Hixson-District 26), and companion Senate Bill 2283 (SB2283), sponsored by Senator Mike Bell (R-Riceville-District 9), as introduced prohibits employees and students of public colleges and universities from being compelled to affirm the tenets of Critical Race Theory and creates a process whereby violations can be reported and funding withheld from public institutions of higher learning until the violation is remedied.
House Bill 2417 was heard in the House Higher Education Subcommittee yesterday, February 15th, but they deferred any action until February 22nd. Senate Bill 2283 has been passed on first and second consideration and referred to the Senate Education Committee but has not appeared on their calendar yet as of the publication of this article.
Read our in-depth article about this legislation HERE.
House Bill 2568 (HB2568) sponsored by Representative John Ragan (R-Oak Ridge-District 33) and Senate Bill 2666 (SB2666) sponsored by Senator Mike Bell (R-Riceville-District 9), as introduced requires each institution governed by the board of regents, a state university board, or the board of trustees for the University of Tennessee to make the grievance procedure for the institution’s support staff employees available on its website. – Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 49.
House Bill 2658 was assigned to the House Higher Education Subcommittee on February 8th but has not appeared on their calendar yet as of the publication of this article. Senate Bill has been passed on first and second consideration and referred to the Senate Education Committee but has not appeared on their calendar yet as of the publication of this article.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Directory for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
One Response
If this crap is banned in our state, Why is it still being taught? The gov. should asses fines large enough so they get the message and it that doesn’t work then CUT ALL THEIR FUNDING!!!!