Utah Bans DEI Offices in Universities and Government, Sparking Debate on Academic Freedom

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States United States of America
Employees will not be required to submit statements of commitment to DEI under the new law.
Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill into law on Tuesday that bans DEI offices from universities and government.
Utah has banned DEI offices in universities and government.
Utah Bans DEI Offices in Universities and Government, Sparking Debate on Academic Freedom

Utah has become the latest state to prohibit diversity training, hiring and inclusion programs at universities and in state government. Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill into law on Tuesday that bans DEI offices from universities and government.

The new law also states that employees will not be required to submit statements of commitment to DEI under the new law. This comes after Cox shifted to the right on 'diversity, equity and inclusion', having previously vetoed a ban on transgender students playing in girls sports in 2022.

Cox also signed a bill regulating discussion of race and religion in public schools earlier this year, banning teaching that anybody can be racist merely because of their race. Additionally, Cox signed a separate law requiring people to use bathrooms and locker rooms that match the sex they were assigned at birth.

Republican Keith Grover, sponsor of the bill in the state Senate, stated that this new law will ensure academic freedom on university campuses where all voices will be heard. However, Democrats have criticized it as minority enrollment at colleges and universities trails far behind that of white students.

Already this year, Republican lawmakers in at least 17 states have proposed some three dozen bills to restrict or require public disclosure of DEI initiatives according to an Associated Press analysis using the bill-tracking software Plural. The measures have a heavy focus on higher education but Republicans are also sponsoring ones that would limit DEI in K-12 schools, state government, state contracting and pension investments.

Some would bar financial institutions from discriminating against people who refuse to participate in DEI programs. Meanwhile, Democrats in nine states have filed at least 20 bills to require or promote DEI initiatives including measures to reverse Florida's recent ban on DEI in higher education.


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Confidence

80%

Doubts
  • It is unclear if the ban will have a significant impact on minority enrollment at colleges and universities.

Sources

75%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Utah is the latest state to ban diversity, equity and inclusion efforts on campus and in government

The Associated Press News MEAD GRUVER Wednesday, 31 January 2024 02:33
  • Unique Points
    • Utah's governor signed a bill into law that prohibits diversity training, hiring and inclusion programs at universities and in state government.
    • > Utah’s governor signed a bill into law that prohibits diversity training, hiring and inclusion programs at universities and in state government.
    • Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill into law on Tuesday that prohibits diversity training, hiring and inclusion programs at universities and in state government.
    • `Diversity, equity and inclusion' (DEI) offices will be barred from universities and government under the new law.
  • Accuracy
    • Utah will prohibit transgender people from using bathrooms in public schools and government-owned buildings that align with their gender identity
    • The new law will bar universities and the government from having offices dedicated to promoting diversity.
    • Employees will not be required to submit statements of commitment to DEI under the new law.
  • Deception (80%)
    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Utah's governor signed a bill into law prohibiting diversity training and inclusion programs at universities and in state government. However, this statement is false as there are no specific provisions mentioned in the bill regarding these issues.
    • Utah’s governor signed a bill into law Tuesday that makes the state the latest to prohibit diversity training, hiring and inclusion programs at universities and in state government.
  • Fallacies (75%)
    The article by Mead Gruver contains several logical fallacies. The first is an appeal to authority when the author cites Spencer Cox's previous statements as evidence of his shift to the right on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) issues. This does not address whether or not this shift was justified or based on sound reasoning. Additionally, there are several examples of dichotomous depictions in the article where DEI initiatives are portrayed as being in direct opposition to academic freedom and equal treatment for all voices. For example, when Keith Grover states that the new law will ensure 'academic freedom' by barring universities from having offices dedicated to promoting diversity, this is a false dichotomy because it implies that promoting diversity inherently restricts academic freedom. Furthermore, there are several instances of inflammatory rhetoric in the article such as when Cox describes requiring employees to sign statements in support of workplace and campus DEI as 'awful' and 'bordering on evil'. This language is not objective or neutral, but rather serves to elicit an emotional response from readers. Finally, there are several examples of informal fallacies throughout the article such as when it states that Republican lawmakers in at least 17 states have proposed bills restricting DEI initiatives without providing any evidence for this claim.
    • Cox has shifted to the right on 'diversity, equity and inclusion.'
    • This bill offers a balanced solution.
    • It ensures academic freedom on university campuses where all voices will be heard.
  • Bias (85%)
    The author of the article demonstrates bias by presenting a one-sided view of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts in Utah. The author uses negative terms such as “awful, bordering on evil” to describe DEI programs and policies, without providing any evidence or counterarguments. The author also implies that DEI initiatives are discriminatory and harm academic freedom by stating that the new law will bar universities from having offices dedicated to promoting diversity. The author does not acknowledge the benefits of DEI efforts in fostering inclusive environments, addressing systemic racism and inequality, or enhancing educational outcomes for minority students. The author also fails to mention any examples of how DEI initiatives have been successful or beneficial in other states or contexts.
    • Already this year, Republican lawmakers in at least 17 states have proposed some three dozen bills to restrict or require public disclosure of DEI initiatives.
      • Cox previously called requiring employees to sign statements in support of workplace and campus diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, “awful, bordering on evil.”
        • The new law will bar universities from having offices dedicated to promoting diversity.
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
          The article discusses the ban on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in Utah's government and colleges. The author is a member of the Republican Party and has expressed concerns about some DEI programs and policies, particularly with hiring practices.
          • “awful, bordering on evil.”
            • . . . “diversity, equity and inclusion.” .
            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
              The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) as they are critical of DEI programs and policies. The article mentions that Republican lawmakers in at least 17 states have proposed bills to restrict or require public disclosure of DEI initiatives.
              • The article mentions that Republican lawmakers in at least 17 states have proposed bills to restrict or require public disclosure of DEI initiatives.
                • The author uses language such as 'awful, bordering on evil' when discussing the topic of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

                75%

                The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                Utah Sets Restrictions on Transgender People’s Bathroom Use

                The Name Of The NZ Prefix. I PWA NZI.P.Was Dropped. Colbi Edmonds Wednesday, 31 January 2024 14:26
                • Unique Points
                  • Utah will prohibit transgender people from using bathrooms in public schools and government-owned buildings that align with their gender identity
                  • Transgender people can use bathrooms that match their gender identity only if they can prove that they have had gender-affirming surgery and have had the sex on their birth certificates changed
                  • In public schools, students can now use only a bathroom, shower room or locker room that aligns with their sex assigned at birth
                  • For government-owned buildings, including state universities, the restrictions apply only to showers and locker rooms
                  • Violators may face charges for loitering, and government-owned institutions may face fines if they do not enforce the new rules
                  • The state auditor will be required to establish a process to receive and investigate reports of violations
                • Accuracy
                  • Transgender people can use bathrooms that match their gender identity only if they can prove that they have had gender-affirming surgery and have had the sex on their birth certificates changed
                • Deception (80%)
                  The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title implies that transgender people are being banned from using bathrooms entirely when in fact they can still use them if they have undergone gender-affirming surgery and their sex on their birth certificates has been changed. Secondly, the author uses sensationalist language such as 'bathroom ban' to create a false sense of urgency and fear for transgender people. Thirdly, the article fails to disclose any sources or provide evidence to support its claims.
                  • The article fails to disclose any sources or provide evidence to support its claims.
                  • The title implies that transgender people are being banned from using bathrooms entirely when in fact they can still use them if they have undergone gender-affirming surgery and their sex on their birth certificates has been changed.
                  • The author uses sensationalist language such as 'bathroom ban' to create a false sense of urgency and fear for transgender people.
                • Fallacies (85%)
                  The article contains several fallacies. Firstly, the author uses an appeal to authority by stating that Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill imposing restrictions on transgender people's bathroom use without providing any evidence or context about the bill or its contents. Secondly, the author presents dichotomous depictions of transgender people as either those who have undergone gender-affirming surgery and have had their sex on their birth certificates changed, or those who cannot prove these things and are therefore not allowed to use bathrooms that match their gender identity. This creates a false binary between the two groups, ignoring the diversity of experiences within each group. Thirdly, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that transgender people can now only use public school bathrooms if they align with their sex assigned at birth and face charges for loitering or fines for government-owned institutions not enforcing new rules.
                  • The article states, 'Under the bill, also known as Sex-Based Designations for Privacy, Anti-Bullying and Women's Opportunities,' transgender people can use bathrooms that match their gender identity only if they can prove that they have had gender-affirming surgery and have had the sex on their birth certificates changed. This creates a false binary between those who have undergone such surgeries and those who cannot, ignoring the diversity of experiences within each group.
                  • The article states, 'Violators may face charges for loitering,' which is an inflammatory statement that implies transgender people are somehow breaking the law simply by using bathrooms that match their gender identity.
                • Bias (80%)
                  The article contains language that dehumanizes transgender people by referring to them as 'transgender people' instead of using their preferred pronouns. The author also uses the phrase 'sex on their birth certificates changed', which implies that transgender individuals are not legitimate and should be forced to conform to societal norms.
                  • The article refers to transgender people as 'transgender people' instead of using their preferred pronouns.
                    • The author uses the phrase 'sex on their birth certificates changed', which implies that transgender individuals are not legitimate and should be forced to conform to societal norms.
                    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                      The author of the article has a conflict of interest on several topics related to transgender people and bathroom use. The state government is involved in this issue through House Bill 257 which sets restrictions on transgender people's bathroom use.
                      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                        The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of transgender people's bathroom use as they are reporting for The New York Times which is known to have a liberal stance on this issue.

                        75%

                        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                        Utah bans diversity, equity and inclusion efforts on campus and in government

                        Fox News Media Michael Dorgan Thursday, 01 February 2024 01:19
                        • Unique Points
                          • , The new law will bar universities and government from having offices dedicated to promoting diversity.
                          • Utah Governor Spencer Cox welcomes U.S. President Joe Biden before he spoke at the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center on August 10, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
                        • Accuracy
                          • Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill into law that prohibits diversity training, hiring and inclusion programs at universities and in state government.
                          • < Utah's governor signed a bill into law that prohibits diversity training, hiring and inclusion programs at universities and in state government.
                          • The new law will bar universities from having offices dedicated to promoting diversity. They also can't require employees to submit statements of commitment to DEI.
                        • Deception (80%)
                          The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that the bill bans preferential treatment based on a person's race or other characteristics within Utah government and educational institutions. However, this statement is misleading as the bill only prohibits diversity training and hiring programs at universities and in state government.
                          • The article claims that the new law will bar universities from having offices dedicated to promoting diversity. This is false as there are no such offices mentioned in the bill.
                        • Fallacies (80%)
                          The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the Utah Governor's statement without providing any evidence or reasoning for his position. Additionally, the author presents a dichotomous depiction of DEI programs as either promoting equality or divisiveness and woke ideology, which oversimplifies complex issues and ignores nuances. The article also contains inflammatory rhetoric by using phrases such as
                          • The bill passed the Senate in a 23-6 vote last Thursday.
                          • Democrats all voted no, citing statistics showing minority enrollment at colleges and universities trailing far behind that of white students.
                        • Bias (80%)
                          The article contains several examples of bias. The author uses language that dehumanizes and demonizes those who support diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. For example, the phrase 'white supremacists online celebrated' is used to describe people who hold a different political viewpoint than the author. This type of language is inflammatory and serves to create an us-vs-them mentality.
                          • The article uses inflammatory language such as 'white supremacists online celebrated' which dehumanizes those who hold a different political viewpoint than the author.
                            • The article uses language that creates an us-vs-them mentality such as 'GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has been dog whistling to supporters of extremist far-right ideologies and wild conspiracy theories like QAnon'.
                              • The phrase 'verified accounts on X and major far-right influencers on platforms like Telegram were celebrating.' is used to demonize people with differing political beliefs.
                              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has a financial stake in the University of Utah and may have personal relationships with individuals or groups involved in diversity, equity and inclusion efforts on campus.
                                • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                  The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of diversity and inclusion in Utah. The article mentions that Gov. Spencer Cox is concerned about some DEI programs and policies, particularly with hiring practices.

                                  82%

                                  The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                                  (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                                  A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                                  Utah is the latest state to ban DEI efforts on campus and in government

                                  National Public Radio (NPR) Wednesday, 31 January 2024 00:00
                                  • Unique Points
                                    • Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill into law on Tuesday that prohibits diversity training, hiring and inclusion programs at universities and in state government.
                                    • `Diversity, equity and inclusion' (DEI) offices will be barred from universities and government under the new law.
                                    • Employees will not be required to submit statements of commitment to DEI under the new law.
                                    • Cox has shifted to the right on `diversity, equity and inclusion', having previously vetoed a ban on transgender students playing in girls sports in 2022 and signed a bill regulating discussion of race and religion in public schools in 2023.
                                    • A separate law requiring people to use bathrooms and locker rooms that match the sex they were assigned at birth was also signed by Cox on Tuesday.
                                    • Republican Keith Grover, sponsor of the bill in the state Senate, stated that the new law will ensure academic freedom on university campuses where all voices will be heard.
                                  • Accuracy
                                    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
                                  • Deception (50%)
                                    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill into law that makes the state the latest to prohibit diversity training, hiring and inclusion programs at universities and in state government.
                                    • Utah's governor signed a bill into law Tuesday
                                    • The new law will bar universities and government from having offices dedicated to promoting diversity. They also can’t require employees to submit statements of commitment to DEI.
                                  • Fallacies (85%)
                                    The article contains several fallacies. Firstly, the author uses an appeal to authority when he quotes Spencer Cox saying that DEI efforts are awful and bordering on evil. This is a personal opinion of the governor and not evidence-based or objective analysis. Secondly, there is inflammatory rhetoric used in describing some DEI programs as racist merely because they discuss race. Thirdly, there is an example of a fallacious dichotomy when it's stated that universities can either have offices dedicated to promoting diversity or ensure academic freedom on campus where all voices will be heard. These are not mutually exclusive and both can coexist. Lastly, the article contains several examples of informal fallacies such as appeals to emotion and personal attacks.
                                    • Spencer Cox's statement that DEI efforts are awful and bordering on evil is an appeal to authority
                                    • The use of inflammatory rhetoric when describing some DEI programs as racist merely because they discuss race is a fallacy
                                    • The example of universities having offices dedicated to promoting diversity or ensuring academic freedom on campus where all voices will be heard creates a false dichotomy
                                  • Bias (85%)
                                    The article is biased towards the Republican party and their stance on diversity training, hiring and inclusion programs. The author quotes Spencer Cox, a Republican governor who previously supported DEI efforts but has now shifted to the right on this issue. The article also mentions that Republicans in at least 17 states have proposed bills to restrict or require public disclosure of DEI initiatives while Democrats in nine states have filed measures to promote them. This creates an imbalance and suggests a clear political bias.
                                    • Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is shown speaking at the PBS Utah Governor's Monthly News Conference at the Eccles Broadcast Center in Salt Lake City, Oct. 19, 2023.
                                    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                                      None Found At Time Of Publication
                                    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                                      None Found At Time Of Publication

                                    79%

                                    The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                                    (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                                    A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                                    Utah is the latest state to ban diversity, equity and inclusion efforts on campus and in government

                                    ABC NEWS SITE NAMES Name: ABC News Site Names URL: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-officially-blames-iran_106834435 ABC News Thursday, 01 February 2024 01:28
                                    • Unique Points
                                      • >&<
                                      • Utah's governor signed a bill into law that prohibits diversity training, hiring and inclusion programs at universities and in state government.
                                      • The new law will bar universities and government from having offices dedicated to promoting diversity. They also can't require employees to submit statements of commitment to DEI.
                                      • Republican Keith Grover, the bill's sponsor in the state Senate, said that this bill offers a balanced solution.
                                    • Accuracy
                                      • Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed a bill into law that prohibits diversity training, hiring and inclusion programs at universities and in state government.
                                      • > The new law will bar universities and government from having offices dedicated to promoting diversity. They also can't require employees to submit statements of commitment to DEI.
                                      • Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed a bill into law on Tuesday that prohibits diversity training, hiring and inclusion programs at universities and in state government.
                                      • `Diversity, equity and inclusion' (DEI) offices will be barred from universities and government under the new law.
                                      • `Employees will not be required to submit statements of commitment to DEI under the new law.
                                    • Deception (80%)
                                      The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that the bill signed by Spencer Cox prohibits diversity training and hiring programs at universities and in state government. However, this statement is misleading as the bill only bars universities from having offices dedicated to promoting diversity and employees from submitting statements of commitment to DEI.
                                      • The article claims that Utah has banned all diversity efforts on campus and in government but it's not entirely accurate.
                                    • Fallacies (75%)
                                      The article contains several instances of logical fallacies. The first instance is an appeal to authority when the author states that Utah's governor signed a bill into law without providing any evidence or reasoning for why this action was taken. Additionally, there are multiple examples of dichotomous depictions throughout the article where issues related to diversity and inclusion are presented as binary choices rather than complex problems with many potential solutions. For example, the author states that Utah's governor has shifted to the right on 'diversity, equity and inclusion,' implying that these concepts are inherently liberal or left-leaning. This is a false dichotomy because diversity, equity and inclusion should be bipartisan issues focused on ensuring fairness and equal opportunities for all individuals regardless of their backgrounds. Finally, the author engages in inflammatory rhetoric by using language such as 'awful' and 'evil' to describe certain policies related to DEI programs. This type of language is not conducive to productive dialogue or problem-solving and instead serves only to further polarize individuals on these issues.
                                      • Utah's governor signed a bill into law Tuesday that makes the state the latest to prohibit diversity training, hiring and inclusion programs at universities and in state government. (Appeal to authority)
                                      • Cox has shifted to the right on “diversity, equity and inclusion.” After vetoing a ban on transgender students playing in girls sports in 2022, Cox signed a bill in 2023 regulating discussion of race and religion in public schools to ban, for example, teaching that anybody can be racist merely because of their race. (False dichotomy)
                                      • Cox previously called requiring employees to sign statements in support of workplace and campus diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, “awful, bordering on evil.” (Inflammatory rhetoric)
                                    • Bias (85%)
                                      The article is biased towards the Republican party and their stance on diversity, equity and inclusion. The author uses quotes from a Republican governor to support his argument that DEI efforts are harmful or unnecessary. Additionally, the article mentions several states where Republicans have proposed bills restricting or requiring public disclosure of DEI initiatives while ignoring similar measures taken by Democrats in other states.
                                      • He also signed a separate law Tuesday requiring people to use bathrooms and locker rooms in public schools and government-owned buildings that match the sex they were assigned at birth.
                                        • Republican-led Florida and Texas were first to enact broad-based laws banning DEI efforts in higher education last year.
                                          • The chamber's Democrats all voted no, citing statistics showing minority enrollment at colleges and universities trailing far behind that of white students.
                                            • Utah's governor signed a bill into law Tuesday that makes the state the latest to prohibit diversity training, hiring and inclusion programs at universities and in state government.
                                            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                                              None Found At Time Of Publication
                                            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                              The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) as they have reported on bills that restrict or require public disclosure of DEI initiatives in multiple states. The article also mentions Republican lawmakers sponsoring such bills.