GOP lawmakers plan to ban more college majors in FL like ethnic studies, ‘radical’ feminist theory

Florida Phoenix ^ | March 13th 2023 | DANIELLE J. BROWN

[Jacquerie]

The House Postsecondary Education and Workforce Subcommittee approved a proposed committee substitute for HB 999 Monday, replacing the language of the original bill.

Republican lawmakers are proposing to expand legislation that would further limit majors and minors available to Florida university students.

The legislation also would further undermine tenure protections for professors.

The bill in question is HB 999 and it’s called Public Postsecondary Educational Institutions. Lawmakers will be discussing an updated version at a Monday committee meeting, where they will decide whether to accept or reject new expanded language in the bill.

The American Association of University Professors said that the proposed language would “enact the most draconian restrictions on higher ed in US history. It bans all majors & minors in ANY critical theory & allow unqualified political appointees to call for post-tenure review of any faculty member at any time,” according to a Saturday tweet.

Lawmakers will consider an expansion to the bill Monday which would direct the Board of Governors to “provide direction to each constituent university to remove from its programs any major or minor that is based on or otherwise utilizes pedagogical methodology associated with Critical Theory, including, but not limited to, Critical Race Theory, Critical Race Studies, Critical Ethnic Studies, Radical Feminist Theory, Radical Gender Theory, Queer Theory, Critical Social Justice, or Intersectionality, as defined in Board of Governors regulation.”

The current version of HB 999 says that the board of trustees at a university can issue a review of a tenured professor at any point “with cause.”

But the new proposed language adds broad definitions for what would constitute as cause, which includes but is not limited to “poor performance, negligence, inefficiency or inability to perform assigned duties, insubordination, violation of any applicable law or rule, conduct unbecoming a public employee, misconduct, drug abuse, or conviction of any crime.”

Monday morning, Gov. Ron DeSantis hosted a “roundtable discussion” about his administration’s plan to eliminate critical race theory and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at universities and colleges. He referenced HB 999 and its Senate version, SB 266, during the roundtable.

He also discussed a provision in the legislation that would prohibit universities from requiring employees “pledge” any statement about “diversity, equity, and inclusion, Critical Race Theory rhetoric, or political identity or ideology.”

[Some Fat Guy in L.A.]

I wouldn’t ban them - just ban all gov’t loans toward certain degrees. If someone wants to study it and the school wants to teach it, that’s their business - but not on my dime.

[Sir_Humphrey]

The radical branch of the Dems largely already has that power.

You may be right but so what? The point is NOBODY should have that power. That is exactly what our constitution is designed to prevent.

[Sir_Humphrey]

You’re suggesting that no one should steer after the car has left the road. Yes, you don’t want the maniac headed for the cliff or the tree, but you are arguing no one should put their hands on the wheels to steer around the cliff or the tree because theoretically someone might steer into them.

Very slippery slope. That logic can me used to justify increasing governmental power and by extension limiting personal liberties. Your argument sounds as if only the government can have their "hands on the wheels". In this case the ones "with their hands on the wheel" should be the individual colleges and most importantly the individual choosing to attend this college or take the course in question.