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DEI Offices Closed at Auburn, Mizzou, Iowa State, University of Alabama – Essence

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Replay Photos / Contributor / Getty Images

On Monday, Auburn University issued a press release that the college would disband its office of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to comply with the brand new state law. The next day, the University of Missouri at Columbia (Mizzou) disbanded its DEI division. Per week earlier, three campuses within the University of Alabama (UA) system, the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville, announced the closure of their DEI offices. Similarly, Iowa State University (ISU) officially closed its DEI office on July 22.

These higher education institutions are the most recent to succumb to recent anti-DEI laws and a growing backlash from the Republican Party. According to Chronicle of Higher Educationthat tracked public colleges and DEI program changes, 185 college campuses in 25 states across the country have made changes to DEI programs since January 2023.

UA Systems will replace its DEI office with a brand new Division of Opportunity, Connections, and Success that may “promote the success of all members of the UA community, including those who may have challenges accessing and achieving education” Hill reports.

“It is important to note that we will continue to provide resources and support to every member of our academic community because our commitment to the success of every individual remains unwavering,” he said. Stuart BellPresident of the UA.

“Differences, including disagreements, shared in a civil manner, strengthen our campus community” Bell continued. “Our faculty, staff, and students will continue to engage in free speech, exercise academic freedom, and engage in broad-based thought and discussion on the issues that impact our world.”

In Auburn, former DEI office staff will likely be placed in alternative positions, either filling vacancies or recent positions in existing offices. In a press release University said, “We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing exceptional experiences and supporting all students, with a special emphasis on providing access and opportunity… We are dedicated to ensuring that the First Amendment is upheld and that all students, faculty and staff are welcome, valued, respected and engaged.”

ISU spokeswoman Angie Hunt believes the rise diversity can still be achieved even with out a DEI office, saying that “Iowa State has developed recruiting strategies to promote diversity of intellectual and philosophical perspectives among applicants for faculty and staff positions by advertising some positions in publications that attract audiences with diverse intellectual and philosophical backgrounds.”

Mizzou The actions differ from the colleges mentioned above in that their dissolution was preemptive, before any laws were passed. University President Mun Choi says, “We wish to ensure now we have a positive dialogue with [lawmakers] that support our university,” adding, “We consider this offers a sustainable path forward.”

President of Michigan Delta College Michael Gavin said: “I can let you know that we’re seeing students leaving higher education institutions which are getting rid of [DEI] language because they now not feel comfortable.”

What will the longer term bring? WITH on college campuses? If President Trump is elected to a second term and Project 2025 is passed into law, “diversity in higher education, [the plan] appeals should be understood in terms of institutional ethos and amount to more government support for religious and for-profit institutions.” Unfortunately, DEI’s prospects remain bleak if the Democratic Party takes control of the White House, with anti-DEI sentiment remaining high and recent bills being introduced in state legislatures on a regular basis.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Politics and Current

During the NABJ-WHYY panel, Harris showed us once again that she won’t let Trump define the conversation.

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Kamala Harris, NABJ-WHYY conversation, theGrio.com

“Sometimes your adversaries will try to turn your strength into weakness,” she said. “Don’t let them. Don’t let them.”

In that moment, she’s portrayed her joy and laughter as strengths, and Trump as someone who would attempt to idiot her and all of us into pondering they weren’t strengths. She’s portraying Trump as a thief of joy — almost a cartoonish Grinch-like villain — but without actually or overtly saying anything provocative. The Trump campaign is filled with attempts to attract Harris into ridiculous conversations, corresponding to whether immigrants eat pets in Springfield, Ohio. Harris has been steadfast throughout her campaign in refusing to let Trump frame the conversation or select the setting of the moment. She’s not here to reply to his madness. She’s running her own race.

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She then responded to Gaynor’s query by adding more commentary on the subject of joy. “I find joy in the American people,” she said. “I find joy in the optimism… I find joy in the ambition of the people.” She listed several places where she found joy, poetically linking each with the words, “I find joy in…” It was the type of repetition you would possibly expect from a black preacher. She ended the list with, “I find joy in believing that the true measure of a leader’s strength is not who you knock down, but who you lift up.”

All of this jogged my memory that it is a campaign based on optimism, not pessimism, regret, anger and fear-mongering.

At one point she was asked about Springfield, Ohio, home to immigrants Trump and Sen. J.D. Vance falsely accused of eating pets. She didn’t let Trump lead the conversation. When asked about the city, she modified the subject to people. She said it was school picture day they usually needed to evacuate the kids. She began talking about the kids. Harris again insisted on fascinated by people and refused to follow Trump’s conversation. Watch her do that during the race — it’s clearly her selection. Harris is deliberate in avoiding responding to Trump. She doesn’t follow the conversation into the mental gutter he wants to guide her to. Instead, she comes across as a babbling old geezer, and she’s above the argument and above him.


This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Politics and Current

Stevie Wonder Hits Tour in Battleground States for Election

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Stevie Wonder, new track, unity, DNC


Stevie Wonder is embarking on a 10-city U.S. tour to coincide with the upcoming presidential election.

The “Sing Your Song! As We Fix Our Nation’s Broken Heart” tour, titled after Wonder’s latest politically themed single, will happen it stops in key states, reports. The 25-time Grammy Award winner will kick off the tour on October 8 on the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with stops in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Greensboro, Atlanta, Detroit, Milwaukee and Minneapolis, before wrapping up on October 30 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The official announcement says the tour calls for “joy over anger, kindness over resentment, peace over war.” It also notes that “as a special thank you,” Wonder will offer quite a lot of free tickets to “those in our communities who are already working tirelessly to mend the broken heart of our nation.”

The tour announcement comes a month after Wonder gave an electrifying performance and speech on the Democratic National Convention on “the importance of action.”

“It’s time to understand where we are and what it’s going to take to win: win the broken hearts, win the disappointed, win the angry souls — now is the time,” the legendary singer told the group.

“This is the moment to remember, when you tell your kids where you’ve been and what you’ve done… We have to choose courage over complacency. It’s time to stand up!” he said, changing his tone to an appeal, “and go vote!” He then launched into his 1973 classic, “Higher Ground.”

Stevie Wonder’s “Sing Your Song! As We Fix Our Nation’s Broken Heart” tour dates are listed below:

  • October 8: Pittsburgh, PA, PPG Paints Arena
  • October 10: New York, New York, Madison Square Garden
  • October 12: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Wells Fargo Center
  • October 15: Baltimore, Maryland, CFG Bank Arena
  • October 17: Greensboro, North Carolina, Greensboro Coliseum
  • October 19: Atlanta, Georgia, State Farm Arena
  • October 22: Detroit, Michigan, Little Caesars Arena
  • October 24: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Fiserv Forum
  • October 27: Minneapolis, Minnesota, Target Center
  • October 30 Grand Rapids, Michigan, Van Andel Arena


This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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Politics and Current

Michael Eric Dyson slams congresswoman Nancy Mace’s claims he flirted with her in text, accuses her of trying to ‘exploit the situation’

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‘You Are a Sorry, Sick Soul’: Michael Eric Dyson Rips Into Rep. Nancy Mace

Michael Eric Dyson has slammed suggestions that he was flirting with Congresswoman Nancy Mace after she accused him of calling her a racist in an interview with CNN last month.

The interview with the South Carolina lawmaker and Vanderbilt professor made headlines after Mace repeatedly mispronounced Vice President Kamala Harris’ name during the interview and refused to correct herself. Dyson never called her a racist on air, but he explained why her behavior was problematic.

“When you disrespect Kamala Harris by saying you can call her whatever you want, I know that’s not your intention, that’s the history and legacy of white disregard for the humanity of black people,” Dyson told Mace in the interview.

'You're a pathetic, sick soul': Michael Eric Dyson slams congresswoman Nancy Mace's claims he flirted with her in text, accuses her of trying to 'exploit the situation'
Michael Eric Dyson (left) and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina)

During a congressional hearing Thursday, Mace showed her fellow lawmakers a screenshot of a message Dyson sent her that included a photograph the pair took after a CNN interview that portrayed them as flirtatious.

“He says in this piece, after he called me a racist on CNN, ‘Don’t tell anyone we look good together,’ and he sent me a kissy face emoji,” the South Carolina lawmaker said at a hearing Thursday. “Then the guy says I’m gorgeous in all these pictures. I don’t think he’s that bothered by how someone pronounces Kamala. And if we’re going to have that standard, it has to be applied to both sides, not just one or the other.”6

Dyson posted a response on Instagram, fuming over Mace’s behavior during the hearing. He read the entire exchange with Mace and explained that he was joking about how united they looked in photos taken after the CNN interview, given their very different political positions.

“I’m not hitting on Nancy Mace. This is a woman trying to take advantage of a situation, trying to pretend I’m trying to hit on her,” Dyson said. “You’re trying to generate meanness and cruelty because you’re so bitter about getting your ass kicked that night because I told you that night what you were doing was wrong,” he said of Mace.

He also condemned Mace’s characterization of the intentions behind the lyrics as “malicious”, “misleading” and ultimately “racist”.

“Your attempt is sad and pathetic, but your bigoted and racist attempt will fail,” Dyson noted. “There was no attempt to do anything other than be nice to you, but you have proven to be what I said you are not — a cruel, white supremacist racist who is incapable of accepting the generosity and kindness of a black man. You are a pathetic, sick soul.”

While some web users found the text flirtatious, others got here to Dyson’s defense.

“This is a very strategic framing of this interaction for her to do exactly this. Why didn’t she share the entire exchange?” one person said.

“She’s clearly trying to extend her 15 minutes of shame on TV. Time to let it go,” one other comment read.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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