Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

mahatmakanejeeves

(60,568 posts)
Thu Apr 4, 2024, 03:33 AM Apr 2024

UT Austin lays off dozens who worked in DEI roles, citing new state law

HIGHER EDUCATION
UT Austin lays off dozens who worked in DEI roles, citing new state law

By Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff
April 3, 2024 at 4:25 p.m. EDT


The University of Texas at Austin is laying off dozens of employees who previously worked in DEI roles in response to a state law that banned such programs. (iStock)

The University of Texas at Austin is laying off dozens of employees who previously worked in diversity, equity and inclusion roles in response to a state law that banned such programs, according to the Texas chapter of the American Association of University Professors.

Employees who had previously worked in DEI roles received layoff notices Tuesday. That came months after the university had reassigned them from those positions to comply with the legislation, which went into effect Jan. 1. The school declined to provide a specific tally of the number of people affected, though the AAUP said 60 is a “conservative estimate.”

“None of the staff who received pink slips are currently working in DEI-related jobs,” Brian Evans, a UT professor and interim president of the Texas chapter of the AAUP, and Gary Bledsoe, president of the Texas NAACP, said in a joint statement. “These terminations clearly are intended to retaliate against employees because of their previous association with DEI.”

{snip}

By Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff
Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff is a reporter on The Washington Post's General Assignment desk, where he covers breaking news and writes of-the-moment features. He has reported for The Post from Europe and covered crime and criminal justice on the Metro desk. He previously worked for the Texas Tribune and was a Fulbright scholar in Germany. Twitter https://twitter.com/danrosziff
1 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
UT Austin lays off dozens who worked in DEI roles, citing new state law (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Apr 2024 OP
We made a lot of progress over the years, and now we may slide backwards into riversedge Apr 2024 #1

riversedge

(72,822 posts)
1. We made a lot of progress over the years, and now we may slide backwards into
Thu Apr 4, 2024, 08:09 PM
Apr 2024

the smelly barrel of bigotry.

I have faith that we have learned some things--but I do think it will be easier for those who want to discriminate.

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Texas»UT Austin lays off dozens...