Accuracy in Media has released video footage of Shemaiah Kenon, assistant director of the Intercultural Center, bragging that she has found "holes" in the state's legislation banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and other divisive concepts at the state's colleges and universities.
"When I read the draft of the bill, people were calling me like, 'This is blasphemy.' I said it's actually stupid because I found some holes," Kenon is heard admitting on camera.
She admits that at one point, they met with a state legislator on a call.
"They're like there are ways around this, like we can work through this," she says.
She admits that the school hosted a drag-queen event "that was so dope" in the past and says her pronouns are still in her email signature.
"Most of our faculty and staff are progressive...and it's always the ones you'd least likely suspect," Kenon says.
"It's so funny because you would look at them and you're thinking they're coming in to complain, they're like 'This is bull, you need to do something about it."
The video, along with a call to action, was released ahead of Wednesday's upcoming vote by the University of Florida's Board of Trustees. The board will decide if the school will hire former University of Alabama president Stuart Bell, following the recommendation of the university's presidential search committee.
Accuracy in Media is joining a growing chorus of conservatives opposed to Bell's hiring, citing his longstanding history of DEI practices at UA and his efforts to move players in the DEI program around the school, allowing them to continue their practices under other titles and offices.
Dr. G Christine Taylor, who was hired under Bell as the vice president and associate provost for diversity, equity and inclusion, continues to work at the university after Bell allowed a title change to comply with the law.
During a walk to "Protest Racial Injustice" that Bell and Taylor both spoke at, Taylor implored the audience to "Go Woke!"
In 2023, Kenon was the fourth-highest-paid DEI staffer at UA. Since then, she has had a salary increase. She currently makes $68,158 ($5,679 a month).
ALSO RELATED: Former UA president Stuart Bell's DEI policies take center stage as he's considered for the University of Florida top post
This is the third hidden camera video in Alabama that Accuracy in Media has released. The second video was at the University of North Alabama, where the staffer said, "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."
Sources tell 1819 News that though the video was released on Monday, it was filmed in 2024. Kenon remains employed by the University of Alabama.
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