State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) said state-sanctioned Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) offices closing in Alabama in compliance of a law passed by the Alabama Legislature earlier this year is a good step in making the state’s educational institutions stronger.
The campuses within the University of Alabama System are eliminating all offices and programs that are based on race, gender, sexual orientation, and any other impermissible factors included under the umbrella of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Those resources will be redirected to comprehensive programs designed to support the success of all students.
Universities across Alabama are making the move in order to comply with the “divisive concepts” bill passed in the 2024 legislative session. The legislation was sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road), carried in the House by Rep. Ed Oliver (R-Dadeville), and eventually signed by Governor Kay Ivey.
RELATED: University of Alabama System closing DEI offices, redirecting resources to serve all students
“Well, it’s a good first step,” Orr said Wednesday on WVNN’s “The Yaffee Program.”
The Senator believes applicants shouldn’t be judged based solely on the color of their skin.
“Why should race be a factor when it comes to trying to help students succeed at the at the college level?” Orr asked. “It doesn’t need to be a factor. We can focus on other items, regardless of a student’s skin color, such as: Are they coming from a very rural area? Are they first generation? Are they coming from a poverty situation where they may have some particular needs as a student coming from very low income? Maybe they come from a school that is not that academically challenging, that they may need extra attention there, but their skin color should not determine that particular support system that they are able to access.”
RELATED: JSU announces compliance with Alabama law banning state-funded DEI programs
Orr argued that abolishing these DEI programs brings us closer to a more fair society.
“Well, you know, heck, I want to go back to the way it was,’ he said. “I put a timetable on this 15-20 years ago, where we treat people the same when it comes to certainly their skin color, and we have a blind society when it comes to that. It seems that we have moved or migrated…to a society that it’s become nothing but ‘well, what’s your skin color?’”
The lawmaker admitted that they make have to make some modifications to the law in the future.
Will the bill or the law need to be looked at and tightened in the future if there are loopholes or things that are being exploited? Perhaps that’s common when it comes to something like this, but we’re going to stay on it and be vigilant,” he explained. “The goal is to treat everyone the same and that we’re not going to sit and discriminate and use the government to do it based on skin color.”
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee
