President Moaz Limayem of the University of North Florida (UNF) said in a statement Wednesday night that the Office of Diversity and Inclusion will have to close because of a rule from the Florida Board of Governors.
In Regulation 9.016, it says that public universities can’t spend money on “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.” This means that they can’t pay for any program or policy that “classifies individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation and promotes differential or preferential treatment of individuals on the basis of such classification.”
🚨#BREAKING: The University of Florida has terminated all staff in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion roles with immediate effect pic.twitter.com/wGbRqVFurT
— Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) March 1, 2024
The policy also prohibits funding for initiatives that ‘engage in political or social activism.’
VISIT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELTo comply with this regulation, UNF must close all of its centers. This comprises the Intercultural and Interfaith Centers, the LGBTQ Center, and the Women’s Center. Everything in its Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
This is a good thing. DEI is sanctioned racism.
“The center provided me friends; it provided me education to learn more about my gender and sexual orientation,” said Lissie Morales, a UNF student. Well, boo hoo. You should be learning more about what will land you a job. Learn to weld.
Morales coordinated a rally on Wednesday to speak out against state legislation that defunds DEI on public campuses, notably the LGBTQ Center.
“In regard to the turnout, it warms my heart to see people care about something as much as I do, especially when it comes to the LGBT T Center. Because it was one of the reasons why I came to UNF in the first place,” Morales explained.
The demonstration was attended by a few hundred people, including Violet Lester.
“Not just the community center will be missed. But I think that security that students have, and the rights of being themselves and the rights of embracing themselves and having that community that was there, just in case things happened,” Lester remarked.
According to UNF, student clubs affiliated with the Student Alliance for Inclusion and Diversity will be permitted to continue operating as active registered organizations at the institution.
According to UNF, this legislation will not result in any job losses. The staff working in these initiatives will be given new jobs at the university that pay their present wage or higher.
In his statement, Limayem said that UNF “remains committed to ensuring that every member of our campus community is cared for and has the resources needed to be successful.” What a bunch of snowflakes. You see, that’s the thing here. DEI does not make sure everyone is cared for and has resources. Those who do not fit into their definition of DEI certainly don’t.
The Dean of Students’ Care Services offers programs as well as a resource list. Other services offered to students include the Counseling Center and the Victim Advocacy Program, while teachers and staff can use our Employee Assistance Program.
The complete statement from Limayem is as follows:
The Jacksonville Business Journal honored Moez Limayem, President of the University of North Florida, as an Ultimate CEO. Limayem received the honor just as he completed his first year as UNF president.
“It is an honor to lead this outstanding university,” Limayem stated. “This recognition reflects the great work of our entire team at UNF, including our dedicated Board of Trustees and our talented faculty and staff. Every day we are inspired by our amazing students, who are doing incredible work and already making their mark on our community.”
Limayem acknowledges the essential role that UNF, Jacksonville’s only public university, plays in Northeast Florida’s economic growth, and he has taken immediate steps to position UNF for the future. He meets on a regular basis with community and business leaders to learn about their talent needs and how UNF can continue to innovate to better serve the region. During his first year at UNF, Limayem worked with the Florida Legislature to get money for two building renovation projects and to strengthen the university’s base in order to prepare for growth.
The University’s strategic plan has been updated under his direction, and it includes a big goal for the future: to get U.S. News & World Report to rank UNF as a Top 100 Public University and to have 25,000 students by 2028. The UNF Board of Trustees approved the new plan for 2023–2028 in June 2023. It will soon be sent to the Florida Board of Governors for final approval.
Limayem is devoted to providing a supportive atmosphere in which all students, professors, and staff can succeed. Limayem is committed to student achievement from enrollment to employment and beyond, thus he has boosted academic engagement and campus activities targeted at improving the student experience and increasing retention. He continues to collaborate with business leaders to ensure that the UNF meets important talent needs, conducts relevant research, and fosters collaboration to boost the local economy. This involves stepping in to help industry maintain an educated workforce through new badging and certifying initiatives.
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#UNFDiversityClosure #FloridaBoardRegulation #StudentActivism
