Fond du Lac, WI— Member of the Colleges and Universities Committee, Rep. Jerry O’Connor (R-Fond du Lac) issued the following statement after UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin announced the sunset of its Division of Diversity, Equity, and Educational Achievement (DDEEA):
“Meritocracy should be at the forefront of our institutions, especially at our state’s flagship campus.
While, I applaud Chancellor Mnookin’s announcement of the planned end of UW-Madison’s DEI division, I remain skeptical. Taxpayers are tired of paying for DEI in whatever form it may take on our UW campuses. Chancellor Mnookin’s announcement included a promise that current positions will be mostly moved to other departments. So, while I am happy to see DDEEA sunsetted, I am concerned that the discriminatory work of DEI will continue under a different name in other departments. I am reminded of the old Reagan adage: Trust but verify.
DEI has become institutionalized discrimination affecting all facets of our culture today. Rather than bringing together our best and brightest with diverse viewpoints and differing opinions, DEI programs on UW campuses were used to promote discrimination on the basis of race, gender, and sexual orientation and silence dissent.
For too long DEI programs at the UW System have been unaccountable bastions of rampant waste, fraud, and abuse. Earlier this year the Legislative Audit Bureau found that UW System administrators failed to track the millions of dollars spent on DEI. Auditors estimated that the system spent about $40 million on DEI offices. This includes the egregious waste by LaVar Charleston, the former Chief Diversity Officer at UW-Madison, who approved $2.65 million last year for lavish trips, massages, and raises for himself and his employees.
While UW-Madison’s decision is a good first step, much work remains to be done. I will continue to monitor the end of DEI at UW-Madison and fight to ensure meritocracy and free speech are protected on every campus throughout our state.”
