LIT Condemns Reversed Vote by Board of Regents to Gut DEI Positions at University of Wisconsin Campuses

WISCONSIN – Dec. 14, 2023 – Last night, the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents reversed their vote on a proposal to gut DEI positions in exchange for almost $800 million in funding, which includes long overdue raises for faculty and updates to facilities. The 11-6 vote comes after students sent thousands of emails urging the Board of Regents to protect DEI positions and programs on campus.

The GOP-controlled legislature put the Board of Regents between a rock and a hard place for their own political gain. The result: everyone loses. This proposal sets a dangerous precedent for future dealings between the Board of Regents and the legislature. What will the GOP strong arm the UW system for next as part of its attack on all levels of public education?

Let’s be clear: UW needs this funding. Faculty deserve a living wage and students deserve facilities that are conducive to learning. However, these necessities should not come at the cost of DEI positions on campus that are critical to the experience and success of all students, no matter their background.

Counter to Speaker Vos’s uninformed claims, research shows that on campuses that embrace DEI values, all students perform better academically, they feel safer from hate and bias, and it improves retention among faculty. If we don’t protect these resources, students will seek education in other states, which will negatively impact Wisconsin’s economy and future.

Despite this backstep, we’ll continue to fight to ensure that all students feel safe and supported on campus, especially Black and brown students. 2024 is a major election year, and young people won’t forget. We will make our voices heard to protect public education at all costs.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.