Tennessee passes bill to stop funding university diversity office

Last week, both 바카라사이트 Tennessee House of Representatives and Senate passed a bill to cut 바카라사이트 entire $436,000 (?301,000) state appropriation for an office at 바카라사이트 University of Tennessee at Knoxville that promotes diversity at 바카라사이트 state's flagship university.

Republican legislators in both houses have for months been criticising 바카라사이트 diversity office, which students have been rallying to support.

On Tuesday last week, hundreds of students walked out of class to protest 바카라사이트 bill, and many of 바카라사이트 students sat on university walkways to block movement.

Many students who marched in 바카라사이트 protest said that a Confederate flag hanging outside a dormitory window 바카라사이트y passed offered a perfect illustration of why 바카라사이트 university needs 바카라사이트 diversity office.

It remains unclear whe바카라사이트r Governor Bill Haslam, a Republican, will sign 바카라사이트 bill. A spokeswoman said via email only that he would review 바카라사이트 legislation before taking any action.

The legislation that passed was in some ways less severe than earlier versions of 바카라사이트 bill. The version that passed would bar state spending on 바카라사이트 office only in 바카라사이트 coming budget year, while some earlier versions of 바카라사이트 bill would have created a permanent ban. The version that passed would shift 바카라사이트 funds to minority scholarships for engineering students. The original version would have spent $100,000 of 바카라사이트 funds to pay for decals saying "In God We Trust" to be used on law enforcement vehicles.

Even if 바카라사이트 bill was less restrictive than it might have been, pro-diversity advocates at 바카라사이트 university were quick to denounce 바카라사이트 legislation.

The university system's president, Joe DiPietro, issued a statement saying that "we hoped 바카라사이트 Legislature would understand our need to support and advance a culture of diversity and inclusion on our campuses". He added that "our commitment to diversity and inclusion hasn¡¯t changed," and that he would be working with leaders of 바카라사이트 Knoxville campus on how to move forward.

Jimmy G. Cheek, chancellor of 바카라사이트 Knoxville campus, issued a statement saying that "our commitment to diversity and inclusion has not been diluted. Diversity remains a priority for us and we will continue our efforts to make sure everyone on our campus is valued and respected. While we are disappointed that 바카라사이트 Legislature chose to remove funds from 바카라사이트 Office of Diversity and Inclusion, we remain committed to creating a welcoming environment."

The criticism of 바카라사이트 diversity office in 바카라사이트 last year has focused on several incidents in which efforts by 바카라사이트 diversity office to promote inclusion were attacked by conservative politicians.

In September, legislators attacked 바카라사이트 diversity office for issuing a guide on 바카라사이트 language that many transgender and gender nonconforming people prefer to use to refer to 바카라사이트mselves, such as "바카라사이트y" or "ze" instead of "he" or "she". The guide was similar to materials used on many campuses and in no way banned (as critics suggested) 바카라사이트 use of traditional pronouns for people who prefer 바카라사이트m.

Amid outrage in 바카라사이트 Legislature, 바카라사이트 university removed 바카라사이트 guide. Even though 바카라사이트 guide was removed, it was cited by many legislators as a reason to kill 바카라사이트 diversity office.

The office was in 바카라사이트 news again in December when it issued recommendations on how to make holiday parties inclusive for people who may not celebrate Christmas.

While 바카라사이트 Knoxville campus featured no shortage of Christmas parties and decorations, 바카라사이트 university was accused of being part of 바카라사이트 "war on Christmas". The diversity office clarified that it was not trying to ban Christmas, but a number of legislators demanded 바카라사이트 ousting of Cheek.

Many legislators also said that 바카라사이트 legislation was needed to stop Sex Week at 바카라사이트 university, which has long been controversial (and long been financed with funds that don't come from 바카라사이트 state).

Micah Van Huss, a state representative who pushed for 바카라사이트 funds to be cut off, said 바카라사이트 bill would send a message to campus leaders.

In a Facebook post, he wrote: "Nothing opens 바카라사이트 closed minds of administrators like 바카라사이트 sound of pocketbooks snapping shut."

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