TCC president signs onto statement rejecting Critical Race Theory, related diversity programs
Tallahassee Community College President Jim Murdaugh got on board with 27 other Florida community colleges as he signed onto a statement denouncing critical race theory and related diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
The Florida College System Council of Presidents publicized the single-paged statement Wednesday, which included the critical message of declaring that their schools will not use any of their money to force beliefs related to CRT or related concepts onto their students — a standpoint in line with Governor Ron DeSantis’s efforts.
“Historically, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives served to increase diversity of thought as well as the enrollment and the success of underrepresented populations and promote the open access mission of our state college system," the statement reads. "The presidents of the FCS also understand that some initiatives and instruction in higher education under the same title have come to mean and accomplish the very opposite and seek to push ideologies such as critical race theory and its related tenets."
“As such, our institutions will not fund or support any institutional practice, policy, or academic requirement that compels belief in critical race theory or related concepts such as intersectionality, or the idea that systems of oppression should be the primary lens through which teaching and learning are analyzed and/or improved upon,” the statement reads.
The DeSantis administration and Florida's Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz applauded the presidents for publicizing the statement, and framed it as one that "rejects the progressivist higher education indoctrination agenda."
“Today’s bold statement by the Florida College System presidents shows their commitment to providing students with higher education opportunities that are free from indoctrination and woke ideology,” Diaz said.
More:DeSantis wants to know how much Florida colleges spend on 'trendy ideology'
The presidents also stated that they “remain committed to developing campus environments that uphold objectivity in teaching and learning and in professional development and that welcome all voices — environments in which students, faculty, and staff can pursue their academic interests without fear of reprisal or being ‘canceled.’”
While Murdaugh confirmed that he signed the document and went as far as helping to create it, he was not willing to provide any further comments, according to a TCC spokesperson.
TCC made the decision to review its curriculum and diversity programs, which have already been submitted to DeSantis. The college’s diversity-related initiatives include the President's Commission on Race and Equity that started in summer 2020.
The submitted review was in response to the governor’s recent request for information from all the public colleges and universities across the state about their spending on DEI or CRT-related programs and campus activities.
A TCC spokesperson said the school does not teach CRT and its curriculum has been reviewed to align with the Council of Presidents’ statement.
Attempts to get records of the submission Wednesday were unsuccessful.
Related news:DeSantis signs into law ‘Stop WOKE Act’ to restrict race discussions in Florida
The presidents in the Florida College System reaffirmed their commitment in areas such as fairness and civil debate as well as cultivating intellectual autonomy and equality in the document.
In addition, the leaders went on to end their letter by saying that they all have committed to fully evaluating and removing any instruction, training and policies that oppose their statement by Feb. 1.
Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on twitter @tarahjean_.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: TCC president Murdaugh signs statement on CRT, related diversity initiatives
