MIAMI — Students at one Florida public university say that they have had positive experiences with diversity programming and classes at their university and feel that shutting them down would make them feel unsafe or hinder their education, according to recent survey results shared with the Miami Herald.
All within the past two months, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a proposal to defund and eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs in public universities, asking each school to submit a list of programs and classes related to DEI and critical race theory. He also required schools to submit detailed information on services provided to transgender people seeking gender-affirming care. Additionally, he overhauled the leadership of New College of Florida, a small liberal arts school in Sarasota. The public university’s Board of Trustees then got rid of the school’s diversity and inclusion office.
At the University of North Florida, the student government took matters into its own hands and asked students, through the survey, whether they felt classes and programs on UNF’s list were indoctrinating them or discriminating against them or others in any way, among other questions.
