As I See It
Is DEI worth $32 million? Let’s find out
The fight over pay raises for University of Wisconsin System employees comes down to three letters. D, E and I. They stand for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, which is an effort to ensure UW campuses are supportive of all races, ethnicity, religions, genders and sexual orientation. The UW System spends about $32 million on such efforts, money that Assembly Speaker Robin Vos withheld as part of the budget fight. But Vos also withheld pay raises for all UW employees, and blocked the funding of a new engineering building on the UW campus, even though the money has already been allocated by the Legislature. All because he doesn’t like the notion of diversity, equity and inclusion. But it would be worth trying to find out just what taxpayers are getting for that $32 million. Is there any evidence that DEI is working to make Wisconsin’ campuses more just? No one seems to know. That is why the Legislature should call for an audit of UW’s DEI spending. The job would be perfect for the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau. The agency could find out what type of practices UW schools employ to make their campuses more diverse and equitable. That would give our lawmakers a better idea of whether spending this money on DEI efforts is paying dividends and guide future spending plans.
The Dude
December 14, 2023 at 9:03 am
Scott, you have hit the mark on “find out just what taxpayers are getting for that $32 million”.
When I think about INCLUSION, I think we are all Americans and judged on our individual merits not skin pigmentation, sexual orientation, or weight & height. The DEI pushes not that we all are the same it pushes differences. Heck since June 2023 UW can no longer use “minority race” as an acceptance criteria.
I measure racism by changing any topic to WHITE. Examples: Miss Black America Pageant, BET(Black Entertainment Channel), National Black MBA Association, National Society of Black Engineers, etc. Also, look at the Boston Mayor that invites non-whites via email to a party, or the college students that push for non-white libraries, or the Facebook DEI strategist that embezzles money, to the BLM founders that push for separation rather than INCLUSION.
So again, I agree that there needs to be oversight and figure out that all of the students need a good education and take that $32 mil and put it towards teaching our younger generation that we all have mothers and fathers, grandparents, and are more the same than different.
Mike Sladky
December 14, 2023 at 9:53 am
I would like to see the NBA’s (National Basketball Association) DEI policy statement.
The Dude
December 15, 2023 at 11:47 am
That’s what I mean, if you take groups that are predominantly non-white and change the BLACK to WHITE, such as a Miss WHITE America Pageant, or a WHITE Entertainment channel, or a National Society of WHITE engineers, it would be RACISTS.
Chanin Kelly-Rae (LaCrosse DEI consultant) should focus on INCLUSION not division and separation.
Heck, I have Welsh decent. Welsh have a history of being oppressed, particularly during the medieval period when England sought to exert control over Wales. The Welsh language and culture also faced suppression during this time. Children were beaten in schools for speaking Welsh. Does that automatically mean we get reparations and separate considerations???
No, I was born here in America just like the majority of other culturally diverse people. Treat each other with respect and realize American does not need race baiting such as DEI.
Char
December 14, 2023 at 12:14 pm
Did you know when asked what race you are that “human” is not acceptable? Yet, that is what we are.
Rich
December 16, 2023 at 2:40 pm
“They stand for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, which is an effort to ensure UW campuses are supportive of all races, ethnicity, religions, genders and sexual orientation.”
But it isn’t, Scott. DEI seeks to force institutions to be reflective of specific demographics by open discrimination.
These inequities are specifically given attention only when they underrepresent certain people. Any other inequity is ignored. It is racism and discrimination rebranded, and it harms all people.
It was recently reported Harvard wants to lower the proportion of Jewish students to match the proportion of the country. Same for Asians at many places. Are we to assume this over representation is the result of Jewish and Asian Supremacy? A country steeped in Jewish/Asian Supremacy? Or is DEI just contrived nonsense by racists?
nick
December 18, 2023 at 7:24 am
I am all for DEI. Conservatives can speak their mind without fear of retribution.
Asians will not be discriminated by colleges and universities.
Individuals can disagree with the left and not have them try and destroy you
Kent Porter
January 3, 2024 at 6:31 am
DEI only pits AMERICANS AGAINST EACH OTHER. THATS WHAT RACIST DEMOCRATS DO !!!!!!!!!!!!!