May 17th 2024.
This fall, Virginia Commonwealth University and George Mason University have decided to remove DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) course requirements for their undergraduate students. This decision came after Governor Glenn Youngkin's office requested to review the syllabi for both universities' "Racial Literacy" and "Just Societies" courses. According to Inside Higher Ed, the governor criticized these courses as being "core curriculum mandates" that promote the "progressive left's groupthink."
After much deliberation, the VCU Board of Visitors voted against making the "racial literacy course" a mandatory part of the general education curriculum with a 10-5 vote. However, the courses will still be available for students who are interested in exploring them. In a statement, the college emphasized the importance of academic freedom and giving students the power to choose their educational path.
The announcement was met with disapproval from some students who walked out of Governor Youngkin's commencement address, with some wearing kaffiyeh scarves and carrying signs that read "Teach Black history." In response to this, GMU interim Provost Kenneth D. Walsh sent an email to employees, stating that some members of the Board of Visitors have reservations about the DEI-focused coursework and have put classes on hold for the time being.
With fall registration for first-year students approaching, a definitive answer must be given. In his email, Walsh stated that his answer is neither a "yes" nor a "no," but rather a "not yet." This decision has been heavily criticized by former Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder, the nation's first Black elected governor, who called it an "insensitive attack." In an interview with WVEC News, Norfolk, Wilder questioned the governor's right to dictate what is being taught and to manipulate the history of Virginia.
In related news, the Board of Trustees at UNC-Chapel Hill has decided to divert DEI funds towards policing, sparking controversy and backlash. This decision has raised concerns about the university's commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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