College leaders across the state vowed Wednesday not to teach students about critical race theory unless it is presented alongside other concepts, to protect viewpoint diversity and free expression, and to root out discrimination in hiring and other areas by Feb. 1.
But state education leaders offered a much more sweeping interpretation of the college leaders’ statement, trumpeting it as a vow to eliminate “woke positions and ideologies” from their campuses and support Gov. Ron DeSantis’ higher education priorities, even though the one-page document does not make those promises.
The presidents of Florida’s 28 state colleges agreed they “do not promote any ideology that suppresses intellectual and academic freedom, freedom of expression, viewpoint diversity, and the pursuit of truth in teaching and learning,” said John Avendano, president of Florida State College of Jacksonville.
