Governor Sarah Sanders unexpectedly vetoed a specific line item in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s budget – the $191,605 salary for the director of the Anderson Institute on Race and Ethnicity. However, it was revealed that the position has been vacant for about six years, and the institute is essentially defunct, with no plans to fill the role. The institute was established in 2011 by former chancellor Joel Anderson to promote racial and ethnic justice but has not been funded since 2019.
Sanders’ veto seems to be part of a larger effort by the Arkansas Legislature to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from the state, including targeting affirmative action and DEI programs. The governor’s recent Arkansas ACCESS higher education package also includes measures to prevent DEI in colleges and universities.
The veto letter from Governor Sanders rejects the allocation of nearly $200,000 in taxpayer funds for a DEI administrator who promotes what she refers to as “woke nonsense.” This move is seen as part of a culture war against what some view as indoctrination in higher education.
Overall, this veto highlights the ongoing debate over DEI programs and the influence of political ideology in educational institutions, particularly in the state of Arkansas.
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