Campbell fears higher education reform bill will stifle diversity, equity and inclusion intitatives
Today, Feb. 14, the House Education Committee heard hours of testimony regarding Senate Bill 202. The bill – authored by State Sen. Spencer Deery (R-West Lafayette) – requires boards of trustees' diversity committees to “make recommendations to promote recruitment and retention of underrepresented students,” a departure from Indiana code's current requirement for boards to consider “minority students.” The bill also reshapes tenure and promotion policies and requires public universities to factor so-called “intellectual diversity” into faculty reviews, tenure considerations and student recruitment policies.
Leadership from Indiana’s leading universities, board presidents and professors believe the bill will hurt workforce recruitment and stifle freedom of speech and intellectual inquiry.
State Rep. Chris Campbell (D-West Lafayette) released the following statement:
“The language Senate Bill 202 contains regarding diversity, equity and inclusion, political expression and tenure is highly concerning. Changing diversity recruitment requirements from being focused on 'minority' to 'underrepresented' students and faculty ignores the very real barriers that students of color face daily at our universities.
“The communities historically barred from education and employment must receive equitable opportunities. Politics-fueled discomfort cannot come before the belonging of students who are minorities on campus because of the color of their skin or their sexuality. But that's exactly what SB 202 does.
“Additionally, building so-called 'intellectual diversity' requirements into faculty recruitment and tenure proceedings sets us up for the dangerous possibility of witch hunts against professors who are engaging in research under the good-faith banner of academic freedom. This legislation seeks to do something unprecedented by allowing the majority party of the General Assembly to appoint members to the board of trustees. There’s a risk of political agendas seeping into our institutions of higher education.
“Many of our professors from across the state shared their thoughts today for close to three hours in committee – including several members of the Purdue faculty. With strict tenure policies, statements of neutrality and new reporting requirements this bill will negatively impact workforce recruitment. It will foster distrust against those leading our classrooms, and they’ll constantly be under the microscope. Our good professors may leave and the likelihood of professors moving to Indiana will dwindle.
“Finally, I think this is an insult to our students by proposing they lack the power to think for themselves. It purports that they lack the ability to develop their own opinions and refute opposing claims. I have faith in the ability of our students to think critically. This bill is an overreach and poses a dangerous threat to our colleges and universities.”