Politics
Governor Bans DEI Programs From State Agencies
"Kevin Stitt" by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Clear Facts
- Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has signed an executive order requiring state agencies and higher education institutions to review their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies.
- The order mandates the elimination of non-critical DEI personnel and prohibits state resources from being used for departments that grant preferential treatment based on race, color, sex, ethnicity, or national origin.
- The executive order has received mixed reactions, with some praising it for promoting “equality of opportunity” and others expressing disappointment for its potential to eliminate DEI offices.
Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, a Republican, has signed an executive order compelling state agencies and higher education institutions to scrutinize their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices.
The order, as per a press release from Stitt’s office, “requires state agencies and institutes for higher education to initiate a review of DEI positions, departments, activities, procedures, and programs to eliminate and dismiss non-critical personnel.”
Furthermore, the executive order bars state funds, property, and resources from being allocated to departments that “grant preferential treatment” based on “race, color, sex, ethnicity, or national origin” and mandatory training on race or sexual orientation.
The new order also prohibits practices such as mandating the signing of a “loyalty oath” that favors one person over another on racial, ethnic or other grounds, requiring agreement to a certain ideological viewpoint, being forced to provide a DEI statement for employment, or requiring that “any person to disclose their pronouns.”
“Diversity is an asset that shouldn’t be abused to advance a political agenda,” Gov. Stitt wrote on X Wednesday. “That’s why my executive order calls on state agencies and higher ed to review their DEI practices. We’re taking politics out of education and focusing on preparing students for the workforce.”
Patrice Onwuka, director of Independent Women’s Forum’s Center for Economic Opportunity, lauded the executive order for promoting “equality of opportunity.”
She stated, “Race, ethnicity, gender, and heritage should not be used to discriminate against any person. Yet, discriminatory DEI programming has done damage on college campuses—fomenting division between students, eroding free speech rights, threatening academic freedom, and bloating school bureaucracies, which in turn drives up tuition costs.”
Brett Farley, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Oklahoma, echoed these sentiments, saying, “Unfortunately, programs and policies operating under the guise of diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly in our universities, have been shown to neither achieve meaningful diversity nor prepare our students for work and citizenship.”
However, not everyone was in favor of the executive order. Oklahoma State University expressed its disappointment, stating, “We are disappointed that today’s executive order reaches into college campuses across Oklahoma and eliminates offices of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. While we are obligated to comply, the University of Oklahoma will always remain committed to its core principles that make OU a place of belonging where the American Dream is available to all.”
The university further pledged its commitment to ensuring an education from the University of Oklahoma remains accessible and available to all students and will continue to work to recruit and retain a workforce of the most talented and qualified minds that are representative of our state.
Clear Thoughts (op-ed)
Governor Stitt’s executive order is a much-needed step toward true equality.
By requiring state agencies to review their DEI policies, the Governor is ensuring that merit, not identity, is the guiding principle in Oklahoma’s institutions.
Critics argue that this move could eliminate DEI offices, but what it actually does is prevent the misuse of state resources for promoting preferential treatment.
The order encourages “equality of opportunity” rather than forced equality of outcome.
It pushes back against the divisive trend of identity politics in education and the workplace, focusing instead on preparing students for the workforce.
We should applaud Governor Stitt’s initiative, a courageous move in a time where such actions are often misunderstood or misrepresented.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Knowlin Hansen
December 15, 2023 at 6:42 pm
sounds like Ford is beginning to realize that it’s comstomers are wise to the fact that we buyers are smart enough to never buy any kind of electric vehicle…we are wise that congress is trying to shove electric vehicles down our throtes
Pame
December 18, 2023 at 1:56 am
Wow!!! Makes me want to move there! That’s one decent, smart, strong Governor! So many governors in this failing country are now sadly infected with that mostly fatal brain disease called liberalism, unless they snap back to decency. It could happen, at least to the most decent of them. Must be some….? Remember God? DO YOU? Are you willing to take that chance that there isn’t one, and when you take your dirt nap, you won’t spend forever with horrific EVILNESS, and suffering? Who really knows…jump right into that way of life if you good with facing that when you either rot, or turn to ash! Actions have real consequences!
Jeannine
December 18, 2023 at 8:50 pm
AGREE!!! IF U of OK really meant what they say (w/forked tongue) they should have “0” problems w/’what the governor is doing!!! But, since they SEEM to have a problem, they undoubtedly have other “goals” in mind! NOW, IF we could get all the other governors in the country to comply w/this one, how different our nation would be!! How many times, has God had to PUNISH whole nations, even to the point of destruction, to make them see the truth and the evil of their ways” I recently saw a video of a former OT professor of “the largest Christian University in his state, and he said that the US is “The Mystery Babylon”. At first, I was confused, UNTIL, I realized-the original Babylon was DESTROYED, for its sin. THEN, it hit me, America, had NEVER been seen or heard of,in Bible days-thus we have the US today! A “Mystery” nation, now probably as evil as Babylon was, in its day! We have been tolerating sins that God has NEVER tolerated before! WHEN???HOW much longer will He tolerate it now??They are now finding more and more PROOFS, that the Bible is REAL, accurate and prophecies being fullfilled right to the end times! “Are You Ready””Jesus is Coming Soon”!! “I WISH WE’D ALL BEEN READY!!
Colleen
December 18, 2023 at 7:12 pm
Finally, a governor that doesn’t think with his butt instead of his brains. I’m glad to hear somebody that will hire people for what they know and not what they look like. I do believe in prayer, PAME, and I think things are beginning to change, just need more scales to fall from the eyes of the unbelievers. We’ll get there, I hope before it’s late.
John
December 18, 2023 at 7:26 pm
Aah, Rodgers and Hammerstein somehow knew what the real O..K..L..A..H..O..M..A was about….Doin’ Fine OKLAHOMA….Great song, Great movie, Great place.
Marilyn Upchurch
December 18, 2023 at 7:56 pm
It’s about time a governor has the guts to stand up against these woke idiots! Our children are failing because of the school board policies! Our governor in Washington state is more interested in climate control and raising taxes than helping the people or helping schools bring kids up to grade levels because of the loss due to covid shutdowns! It’s time there is some common sense pushed through out the country! This equity crap is ridiculous! The person to fill a position should be the best qualified not your gender or race!
Harry
December 18, 2023 at 9:19 pm
DEI= Dead End for Individuals. Everybody ends up on the bottom!!
How can believers be so ignorant? Most Company’s dropping it, people they are hiring are NOT qualified for the jobs!!
Diane Hamdan
January 25, 2024 at 7:01 pm
I quote Rilke – “There is nothing more frightening than ignorance in action”. It stands the test of time so eloquently – merit must be the standard and not mediocrity en masse