1Utah Project

These United States are a nation of immigrants. In a nation of immigrants, this land was made for you and me.

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Infuriating. If the law restricts certain policies, activities and initiatives related to equity, diversity and inclusion, then it cannot also protect or strengthen academic freedom, classroom instruction, and research. These things cannot co-exist.

I understand the no-win situation President Randall and all other public university president find themselves in, in a state with a supermajority that's moved further to the Right. Knowing that doesn't make this less infuriating.

Censorship is defined as: the suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security.

If this is the first question you're asking yourself:

Does the work or endeavor use the terms equity, diversity and/or inclusion? If so, what language would better reflect the goals and priorities of the work?

Then it is academic censorship

The inability to use the terms equity, diversity and/or inclusion to name a work or endeavor in higher education or K-12 is not academic freedom. It's censorship. Censorship is not freedom. Please do not insult us by saying that it is.

Absolutely every university employee will self-censor themselves to not risk their job by not offending someone's child when they make monkey noises at a black person. We don't want the university staff or professor saying something that would make someone's child feel like they're inherently racist by telling them their learned racist behavior demonstrates a belief that Black people are inferior. We don't want to risk that happening, no siree, bob.

New EDI guidance for campus - @theU New guidance for equity, diversity and inclusion efforts on campus includes information for faculty preparing syllabi and other course materials for the summer and fall semesters.

What is freedom? If you have to travel from one state into another to exercise freedoms that should be guaranteed by the U.S Constitution, you are not free.

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When Utah State Rep Katy Hall Vote Katy Hall visited Washington D.C at the end of March, along with Congressman Burgess Owens, she met with N.C Congressman Greg Murphy. Murphy is the chief sponsor of H.R.7725 - the ‘EDUCATE Act’, otherwise known as the Embracing Anti-Discrimination, Unbiased Curricula, and Advancing Truth in Education Act.

In other words, the bill would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 (P.L. 89-329) to prohibit graduate medical schools from receiving federal financial assistance, including participating in federal student loan programs, if schools adopt certain policies and requirements relating to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

The Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) was part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society domestic agenda, and was signed into law on Nov. 8, 1965. It has failed to be reauthorized by Congress since 2013 and has been funded by temporary extensions. The HEA includes the Pell Grants and Stafford loans.

On March 7th, Stanley Goldfard, M.D testified in front of Rep. Owens' Subcommittee on DEI, renaming DEI in this way: “Divisive, Excessive, Ineffective: The Real Impact of DEI on College Campuses.” Stanley Goldfard founded Do No Harm in 2022. The group's sole purpose is to opposes gender-affirming care and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in medicine and medical education. They appear to be challenging DEI in Medical Schools in the same way Students for Fair Admissions challenged Affirmative Action in college admissions.
(Testimony of Stanley Goldfarb, M.D. : https://edworkforce.house.gov/uploadedfiles/goldfarb_testimony_03.07.2024_final.pdf)

IRONY: The subcommittee hearing was heard in the Rayburn House Office Building. This House office building is named for the longest serving Congressional Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn. Rayburn was a Southern Democrat from Texas had voted to criminalize in*******al relations in Washington D.C., against women’s suffrage, to prohibit blacks from immigrating to the U.S., and against anti-lynching legislation. He helped LBJ pass a watered down civil right bill in 1957 to position Johnson to run for President, which they both knew would not be possible for the Southerner without it.

There is very much an attempt to roll back civil rights legislation. This is on the ballot in 2024.

If you read the text of the Congressional bill, it reads very much like .

Utah uses as shorthand the phrase, "Personal identity characteristics," to mean an individual's race, color, ethnicity, s*x, s*xual orientation, national origin, religion, or gender identity.

We have been accused of lying about HB261 by stating that it is "word for word," Florida's bill. In a very narrow sense, they may be correct. In some cases, synonyms are used.

Compare for yourself. Is the Utah Way any different from any other state passing anti-DEI legislation?

H.R.7725 - To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 verses Utah's HB261 - Equal Opportunity Initiative.

=============
H.R.7725
“(A) That any s*x, race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin makes an individual a member of oppressed or oppressor categories.

HB261
(B) asserts that an individual, by virtue of the individual's personal identity characteristics, is inherently privileged, oppressed, racist, s*xist, oppressive, or a victim, whether consciously or unconsciously;

H.R.7725
B) That individuals should be adversely treated on the basis of their s*x, race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin.

HB261
(C) asserts that an individual should be discriminated against in violation of Title VI, and Title IX, receive adverse treatment, be advanced, or receive beneficial treatment because of the individual's personal identity characteristics.

H.R.7725
“(C) That individuals, by virtue of s*x, race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin, are inherently responsible for actions committed in the past by other members of the same s*x, race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin.

HB261
E) asserts that an individual, by virtue of the individual's personal identity characteristics, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other individuals with the same personal identity characteristics;

H.R.7725 (denial of systemic racism)
(D) That America is systemically, structurally, or institutionally racist, or that racism is weaved into the ‘ordinary business of society’, or that America is an oppressive nation.

HB261
(H) asserts that socio-political structures are inherently a series of power relationships and struggles among racial groups;

H.R.7725 ==> Colorblind Medical Schools
“(2) Take any action that would deprive or tend to deprive a medical student of educational opportunities or otherwise adversely affect their status as a student, on the basis of race, color, or ethnicity, including—

“(A) making a distinction or classification of medical school students on the basis of race, color, or ethnicity;

“(B) establishing a privilege or benefit for students solely on the basis of race, color, or ethnicity;

“(C) providing a course of instruction for students solely on the basis of race, color, or ethnicity; or

“(D) otherwise distinguising students by race, color, or ethnicity.

H.R.7725
“(4) Establish, maintain, or contract with a diversity, equity, and inclusion office, or any other functional equivalent of such an office, to serve the medical school.

HB261 - Prohibited discriminatory practices
(C) influences an individual's admission to, advancement in, or graduation from an institution, the public education system, or an academic program;
(L) is referred to or named diversity, equity, and inclusion.

H.R.7725
(2) DIVERSITY STATEMENT.—The term ‘diversity statement’ means any written or oral statement that—

“(A) discusses the immutable characteristics, including race, s*x, color, ethnicity, or country of origin of any applicant for enrollment, admission, employment, or advancement at an institution of higher education;

HB261 - Prohibited Submission (Utah's phrase for Diversity Statement)
(ii) "Prohibited submission" includes a submission, statement, or document that relates to a policy, program, or initiative regarding:
(A) anti-racism;
(B) bias;
(C) critical race theory;
(D) implicit bias;
(E) intersectionality;
(F) prohibited discriminatory practice, as that term is defined in Section 53B-1-118; or
(G) racial privilege.

H.R.7725
“(B) affirms that individuals of any race, s*x, ethnicity, color, or national origin are inherently superior or inferior;

HB261
(A) asserts that one personal identity characteristic is inherently superior or inferior to another personal identity characteristic;

H.R.7725
“(C) affirms that individuals should be adversely or advantageously treated on the basis of their race, s*x, ethnicity, color, or national origin; or

HB261
(C) asserts that an individual should be discriminated against in violation of Title VI, and Title IX, receive adverse treatment, be advanced, or receive beneficial treatment because of the individual's personal identity characteristics;

H.R.7725
“(D) affirms that individuals, by virtue of race, s*x, ethnicity, color, or national origin, bear collective guilt and are inherently responsible for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race, ethnicity, color, or national origin.

HB261
(F) asserts that an individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or other psychological distress solely because of the individual's personal identity characteristics;

Read H.R.7725 here:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/7725/text?s=1&r=2

Read HB261 here:
https://le.utah.gov/~2024/bills/static/HB0261.html

HB0261

On his second visit to the Golden State in 1968, Louis Gossett Jr. booked a room at the Beverly Hills Hotel and Universal Studios had rented him a convertible. Driving back to the hotel after picking up the car, he was stopped by a Los Angeles County sheriff’s officer who ordered him to turn down the radio and put up the car’s roof before letting him go.

Within minutes, he was stopped by eight sheriff’s officers. That evening, he went for a walk and was stopped a block away by a police officer, who told him he broke a law prohibiting walking around residential Beverly Hills after 9 p.m. Two other officers arrived and Gossett said he was chained to a tree and handcuffed for three hours.

This led him to found the Eracism Foundation to help create a world where racism doesn’t exist.

Louis Gossett Jr. became the first African American man to win supporting actor Oscar for his role as Marine drill instructor, Sgt. Emil Foley in “An Officer and a Gentleman” in 1983.

May you rest easy, sir.

Louis Gossett Jr., 1st Black man to win supporting actor Oscar, dies at 87 Gossett’s nephew told The Associated Press that the actor died Thursday night in Santa Monica, California. No cause of death was revealed.

ATTENTION: Especially students and educators:

Mark your calendar. Please attend if you can.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed early this morning after being struck by a container ship after it had lost power.

Rep. Phil Lyman, R-Blanding, a gubernatorial candidate, on Tuesday blamed the bridge’s collapse on "governors who prioritize diversity over the wellbeing and security of citizens." The mayor of Baltimore is Brandon Scott. The governor of Maryland is Wes Moore. Both men are African-Americans. Lyman shared a post on Twitter that highlighted the biographies of three of the commissioners of the six-member Maryland Port Commission, two of whom are people of color.

This is what racism in Utah looks like.

GOP gubernatorial candidate Phil Lyman blames Baltimore bridge collapse on diversity Rep. Phil Lyman, R-Blanding, a gubernatorial candidate, on Tuesday blamed the Baltimore bridge collapse on

If you are a Registered Republican, but lean Democratic and wondering if it even matters or worth it to go to your Neighborhood Caucus tonight, IT DOES. Please remember, we have some VERY EXTREME school board candidates that need not be anywhere near a policy making role.

Also races like HD16 to get Extremist Trevor Lee, OUT.

If you think it doesn’t matter, trust me. IT DOES!

Go to your neighborhood caucus night and become a delegate!

I'm so proud of this piece! This was in response to Senator John Johnson sponsored legislation, S.B. 226 Substitute -- School of General Education Act. Having followed Senator Johnson very closely over the past few years, I did some searching after the bill was introduced. I started with, when was Johnson born and when/where would he have gone to high school. This is important for anyone born around 1954 and would have had their primary and secondary education shaped by the Brown v Board of Education decision. That inquiry lead us to the 1977 Report on School Desegregation in Ogden, Utah by The United States Commission on Civil Rights (read it here: https://www2.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/usccr/documents/cr12d457.pdf).

Many of you already know my thoughts and opinions on Senator Johnson. They haven't changed. In fact, he confirms them through action damn near every day. was another attempt to pass a cookie-cutter education bill written by a conservative think tank not in Utah. Luckily, the bill failed to advance from the Business and Labor Committee (how and why it ended up in the Business and Labor Committee is another story for another day). The 'requirement' to align Utah with other deeply red states had already been met via .

Kevin Korous and I penned this letter in response to an op-ed re: School of General Education Act.
https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2024/2/23/24079154/opinion-utah-higher-education-progress

Opinion: Utah should not go ‘back to the future’ on education Rather than looking at troubled history for inspiration, we should build on progress and inspire students to move forward.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox penned a 5,000-word essay laying out why he signed a bill last month that would substantially rework diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in state colleges and universities.

Spencer J. Cox An accounting of my actions on DEI

Equity training is now considered discriminatory in Utah’s K-12 schools EXCEPT for people with Disabilities.

Equity training is now considered discriminatory in Utah’s K-12 schools A Utah rule initially designed to ensure “educational equity” for all students now explicitly prohibits some equitable practices in K-12 public schools.

Proponents of the new Utah State Board of Education R277-328 and state both protects academic freedom and freedom of speech, yet both prohibits any state office or initiative to be referred to or named diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Utah Board of Ed reworks its ‘educational equity’ rule to match the new anti-DEI law Instead of equity in education, the amended rule now focuses on “equal opportunity” — a phrase that comes from the new law recently signed by the governor.

I don’t have the energy to deal with this tonight. But along with Governor Spencer Cox signing HB261 and HB257 into law, the Utah State Senate passed S.B. 136 Reauthorization of Administrative Rules.

The Utah State Senate just reauthorized every Administrative Rule except one, the Utah State School Board Administrative Rule 277-328 Educational Equity in Schools. Ending it effective May 1, 2024. Even before its five-year review period.

I admit, this one slipped by me. I did not see this one coming. For that, I am sorry.

Today, the Utah State Legislature has returned Utah public institutions to May 16, 1954.

This is truly a sad day for Civil Rights in Utah.

These bills are currently NOT listed on the agenda for tomorrow, January 30, 2024. We will keep you posted if that changes.

🚨 UPDATE: THE AGENDA FOR TOMORROW HAS BEEN POSTED AND THESE BILLS ARE NOT LISTED. WILL KEEP YOU POSTED IF THAT CHANGES.🚨

We have a long way to go before the end of the Utah State legislative session. There are a lot of bad bills. is one of the most egregious. It will change vote-by-mail from automatic opt-in to require every registered voter to manually opt-in via a voter registration form with the ‘opt-in’ part hidden at the back of the registration form. The result will be many voters in Utah not receive a ballot in the mail when they expect to get one. This is voter suppression.

PART TWO

Which means watch the other one first 🤓

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Utah’s Stop Woke Act advanced in the Senate for a second reading. Here are my thoughts. Part Two.

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Utah’s Stop Woke Act advanced in the Senate for a second reading. Here are my thoughts. Part One.

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HB257 was circled.

Utah's Stop Woke Act passed the first reading in the Senate. The next reading and vote will be tomorrow.

At the end of the Senate Hearing on HB261 yesterday, the bill's sponsor, Rep Katy Hall became emotional when she stated, people believe "...that this is just a national agenda. That this is just a push against the 'woke'. I wouldn't bring this bill forward if that's what it was."

Well, it turned out that the bill is a copy and paste of Florida's Stop Woke Act, with minor tweets to wording and phrasing here and there. Utah Lawmakers are not telling the truth.

Rep Tim Jimenez's H.B. 111 Employment Training Requirement Limitations is an even more egregious copy and paste of Florida's Stop WOKE ACT. Read all about it.

Thread by @iamdarlenemcd on Thread Reader App : Monday, we attended public comment during the Utah Senate Education Committee Hearing on . There were many people speaking for and against the bill. At the end of the hearing, the bill's sponso...…

These emails are from the people behind the anti-dei movement. Our Utah State Legislature should have to answer for how they bought into it, hook, line, and sinker.

Per one email, Black people are the lowest on their 'totem poll [sic]' of humanity. Gay people comes next, then Indians and Asians.

Another email, Heather Mac Donald mocks conservatives when they get a conservative 'black pet' on their side.

Read the article. Many of the anti-dei and so called CRT bills came directly from these think tanks. Then show up today for our silent protest at 1:00 pm and to speak against at 2:00 pm. We may not be able to stop this bill from passing, as it is expected to. That does not mean, we let them pass it without stating on the record if they believe the words of the people behind the movement.

1Utah Project statement on Ron DeSantis’ anti-discrimination campaign in Utah

1Utah Project statement on Ron DeSantis’ anti-discrimination campaign in Utah January 21, 2024

🚨A MUST READ ARTICLE 🚨

The New York Times has made this a gift article.
It is a must-read to understand the anti-DEI movement.

From one of the leaked emails:
"Indians are Asians who are white-adjacent."
The is the story of race in America. Race, as a social construct was invented in America by determining who was white. A great lesson on this is to understand the story of Irish immigrants to American (https://www.routledge.com/How-the-Irish-Became-White/Ignatiev/p/book/9780415963091)

A 2021 email from Scott Yenor - "The core of what we oppose is 'anti-discrimination.' That is too much of a sacred cow."

What is anti-discrimination?
"opposed to or intended to prevent discrimination (= unfair treatment of someone because of their s*x, race, age, etc.): Most people support anti-discrimination laws. an anti-discrimination bill."

Who is Scott Yenor? . He's a Tenured professor of Political Science at Boise State is quoted as saying "women should stick to 'feminine goals' such as 'homemaking and having children'. Was charged with six Civil Rights violations. He took a leave from Boise State to take a job with The Claremont Institute, a conservative think tank seeking to “stop woke policies” at the state level.

Insert Senator John Johnson, the House Republicans that passed HB261, Utah State Board Members Joseph Kerry, Natalie Cline, Jennie Earl, Emily Green, Christina Boggess, and Matt Hymas. I would add Katy Hall for running HB261, but I honestly don't think the woman knows what she's doing. She couldn't answer basic questions about her own bill. However, she's doing the bidding the others, which makes her equally dangerous.

HB261 is supposed to stop discrimination. The actual intent is to protect it.

Read this article and pass it to the Utah State Senate Education Committee Members:
Sen. John D. Johnson (R), Chair
Sen. J. Stuart Adams (R)
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore (R)
Sen. Keith Grover (R)
Sen. David P. Hinkins (R)
Sen. Michael K. McKell (R)
Sen. Ann Millner (R)
Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe (D)
Sen. Jerry W Stevenson (R)

Email it to the entire Utah State Senate
(https://senate.utah.gov/)

Ask them if they approve of protecting discrimination, as the leaders behind the anti-DEI movement has said is the intent behind this movement.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/01/20/us/dei-woke-claremont-institute.html?unlocked_article_code=1.PU0.GVz1.s1ATUzUQw7vv&smid=url-share&login=smartlock&auth=login-smartlock

‘America Is Under Attack’: Inside the Anti-D.E.I. Crusade (Gift Article) The backlash against “wokeism” has led a growing number of states to ban D.E.I. programs at public universities. Thousands of emails and other documents reveal the playbook — and grievances — behind one strand of the anti-D.E.I. campaign.

passed the Utah House of Representatives and will be heard by the Utah State Senate Education Committee on tomorrow - Monday, January 22nd at 2:00 pm.

*Silent Protest at 1:00 pm*

We have an uphill battle in an effort to stop this overreaching bill that makes Utah LESS SAFE for BIPOC communities and women. Our country is one that committed harm to people based on the color of their skin, their religion, where they were born, who they love, and their s*x and gender. That is fact. It is our history. It is our story. This legislation seeks to make sure no one can ever talk about the harm caused by discrimination.

is NOT fact-based. It is ideological. DEI-initiatives WORK to create belonging for ALL Utahns. They increase graduation outcomes for ALL Utahns. There is data to back this up. The Utah State Legislature is passing laws to alleviate discomfort for some by harming marginalized communities. It’s that very reason that DEI offices were implemented in the first place.

Learn more about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ahead of the Utah State Legislature's assault on DEI Offices in the state of Utah. Help disrupt the disinformation about DEI.

Watch our panel discussion here:

What is DEI Panel Discussion States across the country have targeted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Offices in higher education. Many have eyeing the private sector. So, what exa...

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https://www.kuer.org/education/2024-01-12/utah-state-board-of-ed-narrowly-votes-to-keep-its-educational-equity-rule

Utah State Board of Ed narrowly votes to keep its ‘educational equity’ rule After intense debate and lots of community input, the Utah State Board of Education voted 8-7 in favor of the rule. But changes could be coming.

https://www.sltrib.com/news/education/2024/01/12/utah-public-schools-educational/

Utah public schools’ ‘educational equity’ rule survives repeal attempt after state school board vote The Utah State Board of Education narrowly rejected a proposal to repeal its "educational equity" rule for K-12 public schools. The rule promises equal educational opportunities for all students, but opponents said it promoted discrimination.

Here we go…
They are now discussing Administrative Rule R277-328 Educational Equity in Schools

20240111 January 11, 2024, Utah State Board of Education (USBE) Board Meeting