Despite Samford University’s Christian beliefs and Auburn University’s conservative reputation, the two schools have shown an ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices.
1819 News investigative reporter Apryl Marie Fogel has been exposing their efforts for the last several months. On a recent episode of “1819 News: The Podcast,” Fogel and 1819 News CEO Bryan Dawson explained how the schools’ policies not only go against state law but also the expectations of many of their students and staff.
SEE: Still at it: Samford University looking for program manager with DEI training
Both schools have attempted to correct course on some of the issues exposed by 1819 News, but Fogel said it’s an overbearing fear of the progressive left that allows DEI to linger.
“[O]ur university presidents, our university boards should not be held hostage to the mean things that are going to be said about them… And that's what's happening. They're afraid,” she said.
“You know, it is not, do all of this awful DEI or you're a racist," Fogel added. "Even if these leftists call you racist because you are going back to a curriculum that makes sense, back to a hiring process that makes sense, back to an admissions process that makes sense. It doesn't make you a racist because they call you a racist. And there's so much fear that you're going to be called a name. I think that's what these universities, how they got themselves into this position. And they have to be willing to say, all right, I'm going to take the temporary heat, but it's for the students, it's for the rest of the faculty, it's for the administrators.”
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