- Podcasts
Podcasts - Videos
Videos - Policy Issues
Policy Issues - About
About
"...it is not meant to be racist."
Democrats at the Wisconsin Capitol are defending diversity, equity, and inclusion, despite two new audits that show state government and the UW system spent millions of dollars on DEI and got little in return.
The Legislative Audit Committee on Wednesday held public hearings into the DEI audits of Gov. Tony Evers’ administration, and the University of Wisconsin.
Those audits showed that the UW spent $40 million on DEI, yet could not track just where it spent the money because of different DEI definitions at different campuses. The audit into the Evers Administration showed just $2.2 million in spending, but also found a lack of tangible results.
Still, Rep. Sequanna Taylor, D-Milwaukee, said that doesn’t mean DEI isn’t something worth pursuing.
“So when we are implementing terms such as diversity, equity, and inclusion, it is not meant to be racist. But it is meant to be a platform in a step through, that we ensure everyone that successful in their learning opportunities,” Taylor said at Wednesday’s hearing. “Because we all do not learn the same, we all will not be able to engage and interpret the learning by different educators just one way.”
She added that DEI isn’t meant to be racist, “Right, it is meant to address things that have been systematically racial inequit[able] within systems for years.”
Sen. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, begged to differ.
“I am encouraged by the lack of implementation of [DEI],” Kapenga said. “Based on just how discriminatory and egregious DEI programs are. It's disgusting. It's racist. And I am very glad that I didn't see more implementation.”
Republicans in the Capitol ordered the audits back in 2023 because of concerns about racial discrimination.
Kapenga said the audit’s findings show that there was a reason for the concern “particularly with what’s going on at the federal level.”
President Trump has ordered a new focus on ending discrimination on campus, including a focus on DEI.
Interested in the content of this Article?
Reach out to the MacIver Institute to aquire more information
