Texas Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programs Under Fire

By Gisselle Rueda, Skyline Reporter

ALPINE- A recent house bill proposal in Texas threatens the future of diversity, equity and inclusion programs in public Texas universities, including Sul Ross State University.  

Greg Abbott’s office informed state agencies via memo on February 6, 2023, that taking diversity, equity, and inclusion into account when reviewing and interviewing potential employees is illegal.   

“The innocuous sounding notion of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) has been manipulated to push policies that expressly favor some demographic groups to the detriment of others,” Gardner Pate, Abbott’s chief of staff, wrote in a memo.    

With the uproar of opposing beliefs towards diversity, equity, and inclusion, Texas universities are concerned their offices will shut and they will lose their jobs. 

In an interview with the Skyline, Savannah Williamson, coordinator of Sul Ross’ DEI office, shared her concern about the future of DEI in Texas.  

 “As a historian, it’s frustrating,” Williamson said. 

With this potential change on the horizon, other areas of state government education could see some devolution as well, even inside the classroom. 

Williamson made it clear that she loves her occupation as a historian and does not want any laws to be ratified that could possibly affect or censor the material she teaches. 

If Texas does not allow offices of DEI to operate in public universities, Williamson said that she will adjust and figure out what she can do. 

If any law affects the funding of Sul Ross’ DEI office, spreading their message will become difficult. While the office would not exist, Sul Ross’ DEI coordinator and those affiliated with the office will continue to support and try to promote the best practices from DEI in order to best support students from all walks of life.