Accuracy in Media released a second hidden camera video of a university official in Alabama admitting that they are still practicing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), despite a state law prohibiting taxpayer resources from funding DEI offices and training in public universities, schools, and agencies.
The video shows Alyson Bergner, who was working at the now-shuttered Mitchell-West Center at the University of North Alabama.
Bergner admitted that DEI specialists were not fired, but underwent a title change.
"Visually, what you see is that it's gone. But really nothing... Nothing really changed," Bergner said.
Bergner explained that the school system was unable to hire DEI staff, so universities have circumvented state law by renaming programs.
"I will say that UNA has done a good job at, like, still keeping the resources," she continued. "And, I would say some of our sister universities like UAH and Alabama, like, even if their DEI office was a person of one, that person didn't get fired. They just got moved and a title change, and we're still trying to serve students. We have just have had to find trickier, more niche ways to do that."
An example she gave of a title change was using "multicultural" in the place of "DEI."
"I would say that most, if not all, especially governmental agencies, if they had a DEI director, it's not called that anymore," she added. "Whatever it is, it's just changed names or, you know, whatever. So, you might have to look out for those, like, 'multicultural' opportunities or something along those lines, that might actually be, like, what you're looking for, but it's not. When you search up 'DEI,' you're not going to find anything."
Bergner said the changes were part of a strategic plan implemented two years ago. She called the law "vague" and said it was intentionally written that way.
Accuracy in Media said there is reason to believe Bergner is no longer employed at UNA. However, they do believe DEI programs are still in place under different names.
Accuracy in Media's Adam Guillette confronted Bergner, who said she couldn't comment on the matter. The school's provost also refused to comment.
1819 News has reached out to UNA for comment.
A similar video was released earlier this month from the University of West Alabama.
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