The University of California system has wisely decided this month to end its requirement that faculty job applicants submit a “diversity statement.” While it’s a reasonable goal to expect a university to be sensitive to the wide range of ethnic, religious and racial backgrounds reflected in its study body, these statements had a noxious political tinge—and correctly reminded some commentators of Joseph McCarthy-era loyalty oaths.
This requirement had been in place for years. But it certainly infringed on the freedom of thought and speech of potential faculty members given that the typically two-page statements played a key role in determining candidates’ chances of getting hired. It was part of the universities’ commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Diversity is a noble goal, but DEI has morphed into an ideology that promotes group rights over individuals.
“The requirement to submit a diversity statement may lead applicants to focus on an aspect of their candidacy that is outside their expertise or prior experience,” said Provost Katherine Newman in her letter to UC colleagues. “UC can continue to effectively serve communities from a variety of life experiences, backgrounds, and points of view without requiring diversity statements.” In other words, these statements focused on the wrong things and weren’t really necessary.
The recent decision by the Board of Regents clearly came in response to President Donald Trump’s efforts to clamp down on federal funding to DEI-focused institutions. “Over the last few months, the new administration … has announced a number of executive orders and proposed policy changes, including ones that threaten funding for lifesaving research, patient care and education support,” said UC President Michael Drake. UC is wise not to endanger funding for those missions.
Although the administration’s anti-DEI efforts have been at times heavy-handed, clumsy and embarrassing, its basic goal here is correct. Americans should be treated as individuals rather than as members of specific groups. Universities should reject race-based political theories, should stop judging candidates based on their commitment to those ideologies—and should get back to their mission of competently serving all their students.
