FL bill would ban diversity, inclusion programs in universities raises concerns about Jewish studies

[Arizona Iced Tea]

Florida HB999 has made it out of committee and will now face a floor vote which it will likely pass and go to governor DeSantis to sign. Majors/minors programs that are based off the following principles would be banned in public univeristies in the sunshine state.

• Critical Race Studies
• Critical Ethnic Studies
• Radical Feminist Theory
• Radical Gender Theory
• Radical Gender Theory
• Queer Theory
• Critical Social Justice
• Intersectionality

It forbids state schools from using diversity, equity and inclusion statements, critical race theory rhetoric “or other forms of political identity filters as part of the hiring process,” including as part of applications for promotion and tenure.

However, there is a lack of clear definitions within the bill. This leads some black and LGBTQ student organizations worried about their fate. Additionally, the fate of subjects like Jewish studies is worrying many.

https://mobile.twitter.com/RealDLHughley/status/1635582622930972673?cxt=HHwWgsDR...
https://mobile.twitter.com/VaultedPolitics/status/1634288638337994764

There is nothing speciifc in the bill that targets the Jewish studies major, but due to the vagueness of the themes described above it is possible that Jewish studies could fall under the critical ethnic studies category thus be banned. I think the Florida GOP should have done a better job of listing the specific programs and subjects they wanted banned rather than applying this wide umbrella to it.

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3900186-new-florida-bill-would-ban-diversity-inclusion-programs-on-university-campuses/

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/999

[Landslide Lyndon]

Good. We need to stop the JEWS from building their space lasers.

[DaleCooper]

The ban on DEI requirements for hiring and tenure is fantastic but of course it's ruined by Republican anti-free speech measures included in the bill. Again, never vote Republican.

[Ferguson97]

There is nothing speciifc in the bill that targets the Jewish studies major, but due to the vagueness of the themes described above it is possible that Jewish studies could fall under the critical ethnic studies category thus be banned. I think the Florida GOP should have done a better job of listing the specific programs and subjects they wanted banned rather than applying this wide umbrella to it.

Why are you assuming that the vague, broad language was unintentional?

[Darthpi - Crush the Oligarchy]

Seems not great

[Orwell]

Surprised they aren’t gonna take out AEPI as well

[100% pro-choice no matter what]

Abdullah in whatever the opposite of shambles is.

Would blue avatars please explain how this is acceptable?

[MasterJedi]

Abdullah in whatever the opposite of shambles is.

Would blue avatars please explain how this is acceptable?

They think it’s the only way they can bring back the complete control of the white power Christian state they want.

[Bismarck]

The ban on DEI requirements for hiring and tenure is fantastic but of course it's ruined by Republican anti-free speech measures included in the bill.

Amen.

[7,052,770]

Banning black fraternities is a total farce. Most colleges (in the South?) have those...

And I never was a "fraternity" guy or anything, but I wouldn't support banning them, and definitely not just the historically black ones, while keeping the historically white ones!

[longtimelurker]

Surprised they aren’t gonna take out AEPI as well

AEPi bro here.  I went to school with the great nephew of the founder, Charles Moskowitz, and I still keep in touch with him.  My own great uncle knew Moskowitz personally.

In the 1980's, we were told that we could not discriminate against non-Jews who wished to join the fraternity, but to focus our rush efforts on the campus Jewish community.  There have been non-Jews in AEPi since at least the 1960's*, and there are still many today.  We don't keep percentages.

*In the 1960's my chapter was the first non-HPNC fraternity on campus to allow African-American brothers.  This was the case with AEPi on many campuses. 

[Zohran "The Sword of Islam" Mamdani]

If we're gonna be bailing out losers for choosing to major in unprofitable fields of """study,""" we should at least prevent future losers from making the same dumb decision.

[Utilitarian Governance]

Dumb bill. I agree that DEI shouldn't be used for hiring & tenure but this can't be enforceable without a major violation of civil rights.