By Howard Fischer
Mail | X: @azcapmedia

PHOENIX - The Arizona House is set to vote as early as this week on whether to eliminate state funds for universities and colleges that offer courses on diversity, equity and inclusion.

It comes as lawmakers in the chamber seem unable to agree on exactly what is DEI and what could lead to the potential for a school to potentially lose hundreds of millions of dollars because of a single course that is considered offensive.

And it comes against the national backdrop of Republican President Donald Trump issuing edicts about what materials and even what phrases will put institutions at risk of losing their federal funding.

Arizona law bars the use of gender and racial preferences in hiring and promotion in public agencies, but the proposal by Sen. David Farnsworth to tie state funding to eliminating DEI courses goes further.

The Mesa Republican, who is taking education courses at a community college, said he was surprised at what he found in some required reading. He said that included references to "hidden curricula'' that often reinforces the values of the "dominant culture,'' meaning white, middle-class, heterosexual, English speaking and Christian norms.

SB 1694 would deny state funds to any institution that offers one or more courses that fit into that category of DEI. It contains an extensive set of definitions of what that would include.

For example, courses that relate contemporary American society to issues such as systemic racism, implicit bias, race- or gender-based diversity or race- or gender-based inclusion would be off limits. Also forbidden would be anything that promotes the idea that racially neutral or colorblind laws perpetuate injustice and race-based privilege including white supremacy or privilege.

During House debate this past week, lawmakers focused on different sections.

Rep. Alexander Kolodin, a Scottsdale Republican, cited language that bars state funding of colleges whose courses "promote the differential treatment of any individual or group of individuals based on race or ethnicity in contemporary American society.'' He said the bill also would include any course that promotes the idea that a student is biased on account of that student's race or sex.

He called all that "just common sense.''

Kolodin also noted it does not prohibit discussion of "historical movements, ideologies or instances of racial hatred or race-based discrimination'' such as slavery, removal of Indians from their land and the internment of Japanese-Americans. But that's not absolute: The measure does say those could not be taught if they violate the broader guidelines, like the ones talking about systemic racism, implicit bias and race-based privilege.

Rep. Nancy Gutierrez said that still places limits on what can be taught - and learned - in courses like the ones she said the legislation effectively would ban. Consider, said the Tucson Democrat, the nature of running for the Legislature itself.

"Learning about others' backgrounds makes us more respectful and well-rounded as a body,'' she said. Ditto, said Gutierrez, about being on a corporate board or in a classroom.

"It benefits all of us as a state and a community to incorporate open-mindedness and understanding into academic programs where young people will be interacting with each other,'' she said.

Rep. Lisa Fink said she finds no problem with eliminating what she called "divisive curriculum.''

"What we're seeing is a decline in academic performance in the universities,'' the Glendale Republican said during the House debate. "What DEI does is take the focus off of academics.''

Fink said in a separate interview she bases that on her belief that students who are graduating lack background in history and civics, something that makes them less prepared to teach. And beyond education graduates, she said some business officials have told her that graduates are not prepared for the jobs they need to fill.

But Rep. Betty Villlegas questioned why anyone would want to block the teaching of diversity, equity and inclusion, things she said include opportunity, respect, inclusivity, fairness and collaboration.

"As a woman that has gone through many generations, I don't understand why people are so afraid of that term and so afraid about each other's cultures,'' the Tucson Democrat said.

Rep. Walt Blackman, the first African-American Republican elected to the state House, said anything that gives a preference based on race, gender or other basis is a bad idea, if for no other reason than it promotes the belief that someone got a job because of those factors. But he said what is taught about the state and nation's history of racism and sexism should be left to school officials.

"I don't want someone hiring me just because I happen to be an African-American,'' Blackman said. "I don't want someone in the background thinking 'The only reason why you got this job is because of the color of your skin.' I want to be hired on my merits.''

But then there's the historical record.

"I was born in a time in 1965 where this was real and it was needed, and my family was discriminated against,'' he told colleagues. "And I couldn't go to some hospitals when I was 6 and my parents were driving all night long to find a hospital because they would not take Black children or Black people.''

Now, he said, the question is whether some of the programs have outlived their usefulness and, in fact, are actually a drawback.

"Are we sending the wrong message to young people of color that your ethnic background is what gets you in the door?'' Blackman said. "Or is it your heart, your desire to do that job?''

There is an issue that the legislation lacks an apparent enforcement mechanism, with no detail on how a complaint can be made against a course and who adjudicates whether it runs afoul of the law.

Farnsworth acknowledged that and said if it became the law he likely would have to come back next year with some new provisions.

On X, Bluesky and Threads: @azcapmedia

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.