Diversity

A federal judge declined a request to block an Alabama law that bans diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in public schools and the teaching of what Republican lawmakers dubbed “divisive concepts” related to race and gender. U.S. District Judge David Proctor wrote that University of Alabama students and professors who filed a lawsuit challenging the law as unconstitutional did not meet the legal burden required for a preliminary injunction, which he called “an extraordinary and drastic remedy.”

Professors and students at the University of Alabama testified on Thursday that a new an anti-diversity, equity and inclusion law has jeopardized funding and changed curriculum, as a federal judge weighs whether the legislation is constitutional before the new school year begins. The new state law, SB129, followed a slew of proposals from Republican lawmakers across the country taking aim at DEI programs on college campuses. Universities across the country have shuttered or rebranded student affinity groups and DEI offices.

More than 50 universities are being investigated for alleged racial discrimination as part of President Donald Trump's campaign to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs that his officials say exclude white and Asian American students.

President Trump has been busy since taking office. The new commander in chief has signed executive orders on declaring a national emergency along the Mexico border and pardons for the people accused in the January 6th attack on the Capitol. It’s what he hasn’t done yet that have some people worried. One goal in the conservative blueprint called Project 2025 calls for ending the U.S. Department of Education. Could this mean for small states like Alabama.

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, both conservative and liberal politicians say higher education changes in red parts of America could be a road map for the rest of the country. Trump has pledged to dismantle diversity programs, some which have already closed in states including Alabama.

An Alabama bill that impacts college DEI programs, bathroom access has been in effect across the Yellowhammer State for about a week. The SB129 legislation prohibits public universities, K-12 school systems and state agencies in Alabama from maintaining DEI offices.

As thousands of college football fans gather on the Tuscaloosa campus of the University of Alabama for today's season opener against Western Kentucky, some things are missing. Namely the Black Student Union office and the queer resource center.

The three University of Alabama System campuses have shuttered diversity, equity and inclusion offices_ and shifted staff and functions to new programs. The moves were taken to comply with a new Republican-backed state law that seeks to ban so-called DEI programs on public college campuses in Alabama.

Republican lawmakers in Kansas have joined their GOP counterparts in other states in trying to restrict diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives on university campuses, but the proposals they've advanced are written to avoid having to agree on how to define DEI. These moves follow Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signing a ban on diversity programs at State schools, Universities, and agencies.

Republicans in the Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday advanced a bill to prohibit diversity, equity and inclusion programs at universities and state agencies. The House also approved legislation to make it a crime to pay someone for collecting absentee ballot applications.