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* Coming a little late to this…
John A. Logan College abruptly canceled all planned diversity activities last week pending a review of their content. In doing so, officials cited concerns the college could lose millions of dollars in federal funding if they violate President Donald Trump’s Sept. 22 executive order prohibiting workforce diversity trainings he considers “offensive and anti-American race and sex stereotyping and scapegoating.”
Though college officials say they will reinstate events once compliance can be assured, the decision reflects a broader concern. Diversity experts said Trump’s executive order may have a chilling effect on diversity-related training and programs at colleges and universities in a time of national reckoning over race relations in America. […]
John A. Logan College President Ron House said the decision to suspend campus diversity activities affected two planned events: a talk by a Southern Illinois University professor as part of National Hispanic Heritage Month activities and a forum geared toward youth about their rights and responsibilities during a police traffic stop.
“The nature of the topics of what we’re doing are perfectly OK. We’ve got to take a look at how the topic is going to be presented, and that’s the crux of it and we’re trying to figure that out,” House said. House said the program content would be amended, if necessary, to comply with the order and rescheduled, though he was unable to say when that would happen.
Organizers of the police-related forum have already moved it off campus, and Roberto Barrios, the SIU professor scheduled to speak Oct. 12, said he is alarmed by the college’s decision and would only be interested in rescheduling if all diversity activities are reinstated immediately and the college president apologies.
The “10 rules for dealing with the police” event was canceled, too? Odd.
* More…
According to House, the decision was prompted by a letter from Terrance Bond, vice president of the Illinois Community College Diversity Commission, in which Bond wrote that community colleges – federal grant recipients – may be affected by the order. Thus, ignoring the order was not an option.
“We get several million dollars in federal money here that could be jeopardized if we don’t,” House said.
Roberto Barrios, a professor at Southern Illinois University, had planned to give a talk at John A. Logan College in Carterville, Ill., on Monday in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. The program included discussions of Hispanic identity as well as Mr. Barrios’s own story as an immigrant from Guatemala. The talk was canceled for fear of the executive order, less than two weeks before it was scheduled, he said.
“To me, it is the absolute obligation of institutions of higher education to become ethical beacons for the nation,” Mr. Barrios said. “We should not kneel before executive orders that seek to politicize education.”
Ron House, the president of John A. Logan College, did not respond to a request for comment.
* Chronicle of Higher Education…
House has promised that the delayed events will be reinstated once the college clears them for compliance, but Barrios said he wouldn’t return unless he got an apology and an assurance that all diversity efforts were immediately back on. “My talk was canceled without anyone consulting me about the contents,” he said. “They in no way violated the executive order.”
The title of Barrios’s virtual presentation was “Reflections on Hispanic and Latinx Identity in a Time of Upheaval,” and it was in commemoration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, observed September 15 to October 15.
* I asked the Pritzker administration for a response…
Despite what Donald Trump says, structural racism is real. Diversity and inclusion training is an important component of creating an environment that is welcoming for all, while learning to understand the role each of us plays in making the world a more just and equitable place.
The Governor’s Office recently participated in diversity and inclusion training and will continue to do so. The Governor would urge all workplaces in Illinois to do the same. Trump’s empty threats shouldn’t hold us back from working to create a better Illinois.
* Related…
* State Senate Majority Leader Lightford to discuss career, state issues: Illinois State Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford, the first Black woman to serve as the state’s Senate Majority Leader, will discuss a variety of topics including her career and next month’s elections during a virtual conversation next week hosted by Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Paul Simon Public Policy Institute.
* Black Caucus highlights racial health disparities in Illinois: According to Lightford, Black Illinoisans are 3.4 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than white Illinoisans as the pandemic has exposed and exacerbated long-existing racial health disparities.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 13, 20 @ 12:56 pm
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I’m sure the “constitutional conservative” and “limited government” crowd will be all over this massive federal intrusion, which includes being banned from being educated about your own constitutional rights. /s
Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Oct 13, 20 @ 1:02 pm
“We should not kneel before executive orders that seek to politicize education.” Like higher ed isn’t already politicized enough…
Comment by Contrarian Tuesday, Oct 13, 20 @ 1:07 pm
Fortunately, the “We Have Always Been At War With Eastasia” conference will proceed as scheduled.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Oct 13, 20 @ 1:29 pm
=The “10 rules for dealing with the police” event was canceled, too? Odd. =
Well, they might mention George Floyd, and we can’t have that, can we?
Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Oct 13, 20 @ 1:34 pm
Who defines Diversity?
Who has the power, and at what level, to approve of some Diverse views but not others?
This is a total can of worms.
Comment by Unconventionalwisdom Tuesday, Oct 13, 20 @ 1:36 pm
MrJM -
Since this happened in Southern Illinois, was that Memory Hole fed by Illinois coal or natural gas?
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Oct 13, 20 @ 1:41 pm
John Logan championed legislation to bar Blacks from coming to Illinois, he was a leading segregationist.
Comment by Thomas Paine Tuesday, Oct 13, 20 @ 1:42 pm
===Who defines Diversity?===
Um, the dictionary?
Y’all are always looking for loopholes. Always. Never fails when I post something like this.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 13, 20 @ 1:45 pm
Kind of bizarre that fear of the feds has more of an influence over colleges/universities in Illinois than anything the Governor/GA can do. The Gov’s statement was literally “we’ve taken trainings before” and not an actionable pathway to pushing this college to get back with the times. Federalism, amirite?
Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, Oct 13, 20 @ 1:45 pm
===has more of an influence over colleges/universities in Illinois than anything the Governor/GA can do.===
I’m guessing JAL is about to find out what the GA can do.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 13, 20 @ 1:50 pm
[uncountable, countable, usually singular] a range of many people or things that are very different from each other
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/diversity
What you call a loophole is really just others presenting potential alternative and diverse views that you do not share.
The above post must have been accidentally removed so I am reposting it.
Comment by Unconventionalwisdom Tuesday, Oct 13, 20 @ 2:03 pm
===What you call a loophole===
Oh, please. Every time y’all have excuses at the ready for this crud. It gets old.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 13, 20 @ 2:09 pm
Yes, the entire executive branch of the federal government is subject to this right now. It is not exactly clear what the perceived issue is, but all diversity training is on hold.
Comment by Groundhog Day Tuesday, Oct 13, 20 @ 2:15 pm
Really, Mr. Day, you don’t know why this administration would cancel diversity training?
Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Oct 13, 20 @ 2:46 pm
===Every time y’all have excuses at the ready for this crud. It gets old.===
Just some commenters expressing diverse opinions.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Tuesday, Oct 13, 20 @ 3:44 pm
“What you call a loophole is really just others presenting potential alternative and diverse views that you do not share.”
This is the kind of thing ensuring that a generation of women and minorities will never vote Republican, just FYI.
Comment by Suburban Mom Tuesday, Oct 13, 20 @ 3:51 pm
The executive order issued via OMB defined “divisive concepts” as determined by the White House. The EO itself was reactionary and applies immediately to federal contractors. Federal grantees await guidance from the respective federal agencies which are the sources of their funding, but the whole situation is unnecessary. Some background from this Washington Post article: https://tinyurl.com/y69vu4xo
Comment by Morningstar Tuesday, Oct 13, 20 @ 4:18 pm
Another resource - the State University of New York provided an overview from their counsel for benefit of persons administering federal funds on their campus and elsewhere. https://tinyurl.com/y595jjhu
Comment by Morningstar Tuesday, Oct 13, 20 @ 4:26 pm
Q: How many other Colleges and universities around the state and country did what JAL did?
A: Two.
While the White House may intend this to be broadly applied, House is the only Comm College president to cancel activities…
Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Oct 13, 20 @ 6:38 pm