A bill that would bar private universities from maintaining or funding DEI offices was passed through subcommittee Wednesday. (Photo illustration by iStock/Getty Images Plus)
With a call that diversity, equity and inclusion is dead on arrival in Iowa, state lawmakers gave initial approval to a bill that would prohibit DEI offices at private colleges, with Iowa Tuition Grant dollars on the line if they do not comply.
House Study Bill 60 would bar private universities that enroll students receiving Iowa Tuition Grant dollars from starting or maintaining offices of diversity, equity and inclusion unless required by accrediting bodies or federal or state law. The Legislature passed a similar bill last year directed at state universities.
Institutions suspected of violating this rule would be reported to the attorney general and required to either prove the violation was unfounded or correct its practices. If steps aren’t taken within 30 days, it would become ineligible to participate in the Iowa Tuition Grant program starting the next school year, and would remain so until it has taken action, after which their eligibility would be restored.
When expressing his support for the legislation, subcommittee chair Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis, said DEI is “DOA” in Iowa.
“Whether these programs were developed with good intentions or not … the fact is, they haven’t worked the very least, and they have divided us more than ever,” Collins said.
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He voiced his agreement with comments made by Josiah Oleson, lobbyist for The Family Leader, who said the organization is in favor of the bill. Oleson said he believes many DEI programs were most likely created with good intentions, but they haven’t been successful in anything other than muddying the waters of how people should treat each other under the U.S. Constitution and law.
Support for the legislation also came from the mother of a college student, who said she hopes the removal of DEI offices would help lower tuition, as well as do away with required DEI classes.
Opponents of the legislation included Drake University students, lobbyists and other members of the public. First-year Drake student Adam Bessman said as a transgender man, not only would he and many of his peers have chosen to leave the state if DEI programs weren’t offered at Drake, he wouldn’t even be alive.
“Literally, I would not be alive if it weren’t for the support that DEI programs give me and other minority students,” Bessman said. “These programs allow marginalized Iowans to be safe and supported during their time in higher education.
DEI programs are not about ideological indoctrination, but are there to support universities’ most vulnerable students and help them deal with issues that others can’t relate to, Bessman said. Choosing private higher education means picking a school that supports your individual values, Bessman said, and without DEI programs showing marginalized students they’ll have support, they’ll either choose to attend college out of state or forgo it entirely.
Karrecia Crawley, a Drake University Law School student, said during public comment those who wish to do away with DEI want to return to a time when Black people couldn’t go to college, all because marginalized people are getting jobs that others don’t think they should have. History shows why DEI is so important, Crawley said, and those who don’t do well with it do not understand that history.
“Sorry to break it to everyone who’s scared of DEI, who’s scared of Black folks, LGBTQ folks, we’re going to get those jobs regardless, because we worked hard for them and we earned them,” Crawley said.
One Iowa Director of Policy and Advocacy Keenan Crow said this legislation will put people at odds with one another, as well as be an unnecessary step in regulating private universities that already do a good job of regulating themselves.
“We think that this bill in particular pits marginalized communities against each other,” Crow said. “It pits the folks who need the Iowa Tuition Grant against the folks who need DEI services, and sometimes those are one and the same folks.”
Subcommittee member Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, said during discussion she would like to see more equity between the scrutiny the Legislature is giving to private universities and the oversight it practices over private primary education.
“We’ll discuss in the committee, of course, but I continue to have questions regarding our interest in invading in the work of private higher education institutions while holding private K-12 institutions virtually unaccountable when it comes to funding,” Konfrst said.
The legislation will move ahead to the full committee for consideration.
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