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UCF Honors the Law Prohibiting Anti-Racist Statements
How many times have you asked yourself what would it take to stop the universities from insisting that students and professors are racists? Surprisingly, in Florida, it hasn’t taken much effort at all, thanks to the consistent actions of Gov. DeSantis and the Florida Board of Governors which oversees the university system. In fact, the Board of Governors is exploring additional prohibitions to be included in the rule.
To review how we arrived at this moment, Gov. DeSantis signed the “Stop WOKE Act”:
Restricting how race is discussed in schools, colleges and workplace training programs, the law prohibits any teaching that could make students or workers feel they bear personal responsibility for historic wrongs because of their race, color, sex or national origin.
The law, which took effect July 1, bars instruction that an individual’s ‘moral character or status as either privileged or oppressed is determined by his or her race, color, sex, or national origin.’
Without any governmental or university pressure, the UCF English Department removed an anti-racist statement from its website that it had posted; in fact, the university said that the statement did not appear to be in violation of any law, and the English Dept. issued no reason for removing it. Following this action, other departmental statements were also removed from their websites with the following statement:
University spokesman Chad Binette said the school removed the statements because they ‘could be seen as potentially inconsistent with our commitment to creating a welcoming environment,’ which he described as ‘one where faculty objectively engage students in robust, scholarly discussions that expand their knowledge and empower them to freely express their views and form their own perspectives.’
‘UCF is committed to building a culture that values respect, civil discourse, and creating a sense of belonging. In an effort to more clearly communicate that commitment, we will be working with departments to ensure statements better align with our university values,’ Binette wrote in an email.
And what were the offending statements that were removed? Here’s one:
‘We acknowledge that many of us are born with unearned privilege, while others are denied basic human rights,’ read the anthropology department’s antiracism statement, which was apparently removed within the past few days. ‘We decry this history, commit ourselves to rectifying it, and stand with those working to build an antiracist future for our nation.’
Everything about this statement reflects an attack on all Americans and our supposedly illegitimate history that must be atoned for by those living in America today.
State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D) claimed that the new law created fear around ways the university could promote diversity and inclusion. His is an odd statement to make, given that we are all considered to be racists (hardly a diverse perspective) and nothing about the racist accusations would indicate a desire for inclusion of all people in the university community.
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Given that the university has taken action to comply with the prohibitions against Critical Race Theory, I am delighted to know how quickly the administrators complied, even without specific warnings or threats. I suspect that the demands of the state administration for compliance with their expectations, given the clarity and consistency of their actions over the last couple of years, has resulted in a minimal amount of pushback (at least to date).
When governors and their states act from a place of morality, integrity, and truth, university professors can complain to their hearts’ content about censorship. But it’s time that universities begin to resurrect their original missions to create an environment for learning, civil discourse, and the exchange of ideas.
Once again, Gov. Ron DeSantis takes the lead.
Published in Education
I know you Floridians would hate to lose him, but I do hope we have him in the White House in 2025. (That seems far too long to have to wait.)
Maybe they’ll make great advances in cloning technology! If I knew we had someone strong to replace DeSantis, I’d be less reluctant to let him go. He’ll be running for governor in the fall and I think will win hands down; meanwhile, I hope he’s scouting around for someone to replace him.
Seeing apparent compliance by the university is interesting. Years ago when California voters passed an initiative to ban race discrimination by the University of California (affirmative action) the university fought it tooth and nail, and sought all sorts of back door ways to continue discriminating on the basis of race.
I must admit I’m a bit skeptical of how long the compliance will last. They seem to have rolled over pretty quickly. I remember the activity in CA; I may have still been living there. But after all, “our betters” always know how to ignore us. But maybe enough people are beginning to get tired of the woke agenda here; we can hope.
It’s throwing its last weapons trying to hit the broadside of the barn and failing. Every day it is failing more. Thank Jill Biden for her “bogedas” and “breakfast tacos,” because she just accelerated the burnout process.
Let’s hope so! We need all the help we can get, Chris!
I must add that for the past week I’ve been a Sunshine State temporary resident. It’s enlightening, because forces associated with the right (I won’t label them “conservative” because that’s too constricting at this point) are visible and making efforts to enlist more.
What’s the big deal? Because in other states the, um, longstanding organizational elements of our side are too timid or frightened to show anything much in the way of leadership.
This is how we lose: concession of the playing field (public discussion) to the left. Waiting our turn because they screwed up theirs is not leadership, and, by the way, it won’t get voters otherwise inclined to support us out to the polls.
So very true, Chris. We must transcend our fears. There’s too much at stake to sit on the sidelines.
I used to think the same, but feel now that it is wrong to think that the ‘right’ person in the Federal government would solve our problems. That would be useful, but we need to get the power back from the Federal government to the states and that will take getting power and control back to the states and localities. That will require state leaders like DeSantis.
Yes, please.
Two years is a long time to leave the Chinese in charge. She’s weak, not bright and off base and like Biden would do what she’s told, but won’t have to toe the line for the Chinese. She can be replaced as well but they’ll have to fight over the next elections. Better than now, and she could be replaced by the old lady, who is corrupt but at least smart. But Biden is there for the Chinese and must go.
I found my movin’ buddy!
Yes, she’s senile as well, but not owned by the Chinese. I like the VP, it’ll lead to fights for the nomination and may cause some exposure to some rot and less time for the theft.
UCF recently lost an attempt to defend its speech code and bias response teams in the Eleventh Circuit. That may have something to do with its actions described in the OP.
Thanks so much for the information, John! I missed that case, and I think you may very well be right!