Woke Capture at UT-Knoxville. Despite efforts by state legislators, the institution remains committed to DEI nonsense.

James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal ^ | October 5, 2022 | George Leef

[karpov]

It’s by now a commonplace story: State universities in “red” states, where most of the voters and legislators dislike progressive ideology, are being infiltrated by administrators and faculty who insist on implementing radically leftist policies and courses. Earlier this year, for example, the Martin Center published this article by Jonathan Small on the ways that “wokeness” was gaining a foothold at the University of Oklahoma.

Another state where this battle is being waged is Tennessee.

The ideological skirmishing began back in 2016, as detailed in this article in the Tennessean. Fed up with a host of programs and policies instituted by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s (UTK) Office of Diversity and Equity, the state legislature eliminated that office’s funding.

You might think the message was clear—the representatives of the people do not want ideological zealotry in their university.

The problem is that “progressives” do not recognize any limits placed on them through democracy, property rights, or contracts. Convinced of their righteousness, they never stop trying to expand their sphere of control. In education, that means pushing their ideological beliefs and forcing out dissenters.

After the 2016 battle had been forgotten, the university’s senior vice chancellor John Zomchik released a report in 2018 calling for all academic units to include “statements in their bylaws that reflect a commitment to diversity and inclusion.” Moreover, academic units were expected to integrate diversity into all aspects of their efforts and to staff their search committees with members who have an active commitment to the diversity agenda.

At this point, Zomchik and his allies might have been listening for the sounds of cannon from the state legislature. Would his move to shift the university away from traditional academic concerns by making “diversity” the trump card lead to another negative response? Unfortunately not.

[packagingguy]

A kid I used to help with science fair projects went to Engineering Day at UT Knoxville while a senior in high school.

They didn’t get to see the engineering labs. They did get lectures about being non-binary, transgendered, having fetishes and the like.

Then she went to Engineering Day at Mississippi State. They were able to tour the labs, do some experiments, meet the graduate students and faculty.

She decided on Mississippi State.

[Boogieman]

“the state legislature eliminated that office’s funding”

Mistake. Eliminate ALL the funding and make the university submit to annual oversight of all their programs by a specially appointed ombudsman-type if they want to get it back.

[RetiredScientist]

If parents pay attention, they can “Make the Woke go Broke” The minute you hear “preferred pronouns” - Run away fast and tell others. The only way to win and save the next generation is to bankrupt these programs!