(PatriotsUnited.org) – The University of Michigan (UoM) has been slammed for allegedly dishing out a whopping $100,000 on a reception to celebrate its latest Diversity and Inclusion policies.
They have dubbed the changes a “DEI 2.0” plan. The October 2023 party included a roundtable discussion on“critical race theory and hip-hop” along with a music performance in said genre by famous artists Rapsody, along with an espresso bar. Spending details were unveiled via a public records request published last week.
This annual DEI Summit, spearheaded by the university’s public affairs department, was reportedly geared toward celebrating the hip-hop genre’s 50th anniversary and exploring its intersection with racial critical theory. A spokesperson for the college told press that DEI were “core values” of the institution, arguing that its efforts to carry out its policies were “far-reaching” and “complex” given the university’s 51 units, more than 50,000 pupils and 50,000 plus staff.
Despite the college’s bizarre doubling down on their decision, it has naturally sparked controversy. The party’s budget paid some $60,000 to the main two speakers, while $35,000 went towards a performance from hip-hop artist Rapsody. One speaker was paid tens of thousands of dollars for a 10-minute speech. They also paid through the nose for first-class travel and accommodation for the pricey speakers.
UoM’s decadent spending comes despite the fact that many colleges are struggling with funding, with a few consequently scrapping their DEI schemes. In May the University of North Carolina’s leadership board voted to walk back its DEI policies and replace them with more neutral guidelines and stated their commitment to free speech.
Texas also brought forward a similar law prohibiting DEI policies and offices at public colleges. This change resulted in the redundancy of some 60 DEI staff at the University of Texas-Austin. Harvard University has also scrapped its prior requirement for faculty to officially sign on to DEI statements before being formally employed.
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