Trump’s controversial diversity training order is dead – or is it? Colleges are still feeling its effects. – USA Today
An overturned executive order from President Trump focused on banning some forms of diversity training is still sparking debate on college campuses.
Many universities scrambled to comply with the controversial order last year, which would have prevented the federal government and its contractors from offering diversity training that Trump had called divisive. Biden has since overturned the order, but it had already tapped into a live vein of distrust among right-leaning voters who fear colleges are not teaching their students, but rather indoctrinating them.
Look no further than the University of Iowa and its college of dentistry. Back in October, the college emailed everyone in the department condemning the order. But one student disagreed with the university’s criticism – and did so by replying all to the email.
“By condemning executive order 13950, does the [College of Dentistry] support using federal funds to promote trainings that include race/sex stereotyping and/or race/sex scapegoating,” student Michael Brase wrote.
What followed was a messy debate full of denials and accusations of racism that unfollowed one email at a time.