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SALT LAKE CITY — As the proposal to dramatically change diversity, equity and inclusion programs at Utah's universities has raced through the Utah Legislature, college officials have remained largely silent, at least in the public sphere.
But they've been involved in the process and, for now, they're waiting to see the measure that emerges when lawmakers are done debating and voting.
"What I can share now is that emotions on campus range from curious to worried when it comes to how new legislation could impact our programs and organizational structure at Weber State," Bryan Magaña, spokesman at Weber State University, told KSL.com. "But we're a resilient community, and we're laser-focused on our vision of 'meeting all students where they are, challenging and guiding them to achieve their goals academically and in life.'"
The proposal, HB261, has generated strong debate along with unanimous support so far from GOP lawmakers and unanimous opposition from the Democratic minority. Likewise, it has spurred many questions about how the change would impact the students that diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives are meant to serve — typically students of color, members of the LGBTQ community and others who have traditionally contended with marginalization.
Utah State University spokeswoman Amanda DeRito said USU officials are watchful as the measure progresses. It passed in the Utah Senate on a second reading in a 23-6 vote on Wednesday and could get final approval by senators on Thursday. After that, it would return to the House for consideration stemming from an amendment approved by the Senate.
USU officials have engaged in the process through the Utah System of Higher Education, which oversees the state's system of public post-secondary institutions, "and have closely watched debate on HB261," DeRito said. "Based on the sponsors' statements, we believe that our cultural centers will remain open and continue to serve our campus community."
USU officials won't know the full potential impact of HB261 until it passes and they can complete a more thorough review, she said. Both she and Magaña, though, emphasized that the universities will keep their focus on serving all students. Among other things, HB261, essentially, aims to extend the sort of offerings available to students through diversity, equity and inclusion programs to white, non-Hispanic students and others who may not otherwise fall under their purview.
"For any student struggling to find the courage to go to college, or the money to do so, we'll have programs, financial aid and scholarships to help," Magaña said.
USU, DeRito said, "will always be committed to an inclusive campus" and work within applicable laws and guidelines to make sure the university "is a place where everyone has the opportunity to succeed."
University of Utah officials are holding off on comment until HB261 passes and they can review the measure and its likely impacts. But U. spokeswoman Rebecca Walsh pointed to a Jan. 17 public statement issued by U. President Taylor Randall as the debate over HB261 lurched forward. "While some of our processes may change to comply with state laws and Utah System of Higher Education policies, we remain committed to building bridges between communities, creating opportunities for connection and fostering a healthy campus environment where everyone has an opportunity to succeed," Randall said.
Aside from expanding the scope of diversity programs to all students who could potentially benefit from them, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender and other personal identifiers, HB261 would prohibit universities and other public entities from seeking "diversity statements" from job applicants. Those are statements meant to gauge a writer's sentiments toward diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. HB261 also aims to promote "academic freedom" amid concerns from some conservatives that liberal strains of thought are too dominant on college campuses.
'Viewpoint diversity'
The sort of public speakers invited to college campuses has been another thorny topic, with some conservatives dismayed over what seems to them to be dominance of more left-leaning guests. An address by transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney at Weber State University on Jan. 17, for instance, drew the attention of conservative Utah Sen. John Johnson, R-North Ogden, and conservative Utah Board of Education member Natalie Cline.
Johnson believes in "viewpoint diversity" on college campuses and said in response to Mulvaney's appearance that if a speaker from one side of the spectrum on a "divisive" matter like transgender issues is invited to speak, "both sides of the issue" ought to get a platform.
In that vein, HB261 sponsors Rep. Katy Hall, R-South Ogden, and Sen. Keith Grover, R-Provo, added language to the bill on Monday requiring universities to craft strategies related to inviting speakers that "promote viewpoint diversity."
"We just want to make sure speakers of either side, if there's such a thing, are able to come and speak," Grover said Monday.
Jamie Renda of Path Forward Utah, which advocates for "diverse communities" via a conservative lens, reached out to Weber State officials on that very issue. It's not that speakers like Mulvaney shouldn't be allowed to speak, she said, but that a broader range of voices should be heard on college campuses.
"I just want a counterpoint so students can get a balanced viewpoint. I'm just upset there's no balance and has been no balance," said Renda, who has attended the varied hearings on HB261 and testified at least once, along with others from Path Forward Utah. She offered a list of potential speakers for Weber State to consider in a meeting with college reps on Wednesday.
Walsh said Randall has appointed a task force to look into the "viewpoint diversity" issue. But she also noted a sampling of speakers over the past few months at the U. that university officials compiled that shows a range of speakers cutting across the political spectrum.
Magaña said Weber State officials have always sought a range of speakers at the campus that "resonate with a wide variety of people." At any rate, addressing speaker diversity can be tricky, though university officials welcome feedback on the issue.
"What I can say is that viewpoint diversity goes beyond left or right, liberal or conservative, so these conversations are going to be complex and nuanced," he said.
Correction: An earlier version incorrectly stated HB261 would go to Gov. Spencer Cox's office for signing presuming approval on third reading by the Senate. First, though, the measure would go back to the House stemming from an amendment approved by senators.
