Old North News

WASHINGTON – Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee Chairman Burgess Owens (R-UT) delivered a statement at a hearing titled "Divisive, Excessive, Ineffective: The Real Impact of DEI on College Campuses." Owens began by addressing the concept of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), stating, "Today’s hearing addresses a long-growing cancer that resides at the heart of American academic institutions. Unfortunately, it has spread through our foundational institutions and the whole of Western liberal society. It’s called 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' or DEI for short."

Owens quoted Ibram X. Kendi to define DEI, saying, "'The only remedy to racist discrimination is antiracist discrimination. The only remedy to past discrimination is present discrimination. The only remedy to present discrimination is future discrimination.' I can summarize this definition with two words: demeaning, racist."

The Congressman criticized DEI for its impact on education and society, stating, "DEI is not an abstract concept but is instead practical applications used on almost every college campus throughout our country, both public and private." He highlighted the divisive nature of DEI initiatives, noting, "Instead of becoming a more perfect union, it turns our schools, communities, and cities into cesspools of divisiveness and hate."

Owens also expressed concerns about the treatment of individuals within DEI frameworks, stating, "DEI teaches that black Americans, as members of an oppressed race, are weak and incapable of standing and succeeding independently." He further criticized the movement for its effects on academic freedom, saying, "Scholars who dare to publish research that challenges this liberal orthodoxy are often canceled and pushed out of the academic profession."

In conclusion, Chairman Burgess Owens emphasized the need for a discussion on DEI, from its historical roots to its current impact on education and workforce development.