Harvard's President Resigns After More Bullying, DEI is Banned in Texas Public Universities, & Tech Giants Cut DEI Budgets Up to 90%

In today’s DEI in 5:

• Harvard President Claudine Gay Resigns, Shortest Tenure in University History

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs Took a Hit in 2023

• DEI Ban in Texas Public Universities, Other Laws Take Effect January 1

• HR leaders say they’re still committed to DEI in 2024 despite the ‘anti-woke’ backlash

• New Deloitte Study Finds That Employees Are ‘Covering’ Their True Identities In The Workplace More Than Ever

• Groupon Commits $350K To Black STEM Students As It Settles Race Discrimination Investigation

  Read time: 5 minutes

Harvard President Claudine Gay Resigns, Shortest Tenure in University History

Summary: Harvard President Claudine Gay resigns after a brief and tumultuous tenure marked by controversy following her Congressional testimony and a personal attack by conservatives at The Washington Free Beacon.

The Details:

• Abrupt Resignation: Claudine Gay steps down abruptly, marking the shortest presidency in Harvard's history, amid new allegations of plagiarism and criticism of her handling of antisemitism on campus. The allegations come from a conservative online journal that has bullied led a campaign against Gay for weeks now.

• Interim Leadership: Harvard University Provost Alan M. Garber will take over as interim president while the search for a permanent successor is underway.

• No Comment from Harvard: The University spokesperson has declined to comment on the circumstances leading to Gay's resignation.

• Recent Support from Harvard Corporation: This resignation follows shortly after the Harvard Corporation had expressed unanimous support for Gay.

• Pending Announcement: The Harvard community awaits an official announcement via email from Gay and a statement from the Corporation.

Why is this relevant: Gay's resignation is significant as it not only reflects on the challenges that Black women in leadership encounter, but more specifically for Black women in academia who are often bullied, harassed, and retaliated against, in ways that other professionals are not. According to NYT: “The accusations were circulated through an unsigned complaint published Monday in The Washington Free Beacon, a conservative online journal that has led a campaign against Dr. Gay over the past few weeks. The new complaint added additional accusations of plagiarism to about 40 that had already been circulated in the same way, apparently by the same accuser.”

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs Took a Hit in 2023

Summary: Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the U.S. have experienced significant setbacks in 2023, with decreased job postings, budget cuts, and challenges in the legal and academic arenas.

The Details:

• Decline in DEI Initiatives: Job postings related to DEI have seen a significant decrease, dropping by 44% in 2023.

• Impact of Layoffs and Lawsuits: The scaling back of DEI programs has been attributed to shifts in company priorities due to layoffs and the threat of discrimination lawsuits.

• Tech Industry Cuts: Companies like Google and Meta reduced DEI efforts, with some reportedly cutting DEI budgets by up to 90%.

• Corporate Policy Revisions: Firms including JPMorgan Chase have modified their DEI policies in response to legal challenges and shareholder pressures.

• High-Profile Opposition: Prominent figures, including Elon Musk, have publicly criticized DEI, advocating for its end, despite not knowing what DEI work actually entails.

• Academic Sector Changes: DEI faced hurdles in academia with the Supreme Court ruling against Harvard's affirmative action in admissions and state bans on DEI programs in colleges.

Why is this relevant: The retreat from DEI initiatives marks a shift in the social and political climate surrounding diversity practices in the workplace and academia. These changes reflect broader debates on the role and implementation of DEI, its impact on hiring and admissions, and the future direction of such initiatives. The discourse and legislative actions taken against DEI may influence how organizations and institutions approach diversity, equity, and inclusion moving forward.

DEI ban in Texas Public Universities, Other Laws Take Effect January 1

Summary: Texas is set to enforce a ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in public higher education, starting January 1, as part of new laws coming into effect which also include tax policy changes and benefits for retired teachers.

The Details:

• DEI Ban Implementation: Senate Bill 17, backed by Republican lawmakers and causing division in the state legislature, will halt DEI programs in public universities.

• Small Business Tax Cuts: Senate Bill 3 will double the revenue threshold for franchise tax exemption, potentially freeing tens of thousands of small businesses from this tax.

• Texas Retired Teachers Benefits: Approved by voters, a cost-of-living adjustment will be provided to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, along with a one-time bonus for retired teachers over 75.

• Texas University Fund: With voter approval, HB 1595 will begin allocating funds for research to prominent state universities, aiming to boost educational and research capabilities.

Why is this relevant: The implementation of these laws, particularly the DEI ban, reflects the ongoing political and social discourse surrounding diversity practices within educational institutions. The ban may significantly impact the composition and operations of Texas public universities and could signal similar legislative moves in other states. These changes, along with the tax and retirement adjustments, are set to shape the economic and educational landscape of Texas going forward, and will likely influence other states.

• HR leaders say they’re still committed to DEI in 2024 despite the ‘anti-woke’ backlash [Fortune]

• Groupon Commits $350K To Black STEM Students As It Settles Race Discrimination Investigation [POCIT]

• New Deloitte Study Finds That Employees Are ‘Covering’ Their True Identities In The Workplace More Than Ever [Essence]

• Toxic Positivity in the Workplace: A Detriment to Employee Well-being [BNN]

• NEW STUDY: Research Suggests the Arbitrariness of Facial Features Affects Jurors’ Sentencing Decisions in Death Penalty Cases [DPIC]

• 12-year-old environmental activist fought to ban plastic bags and plastic foam use in Colorado [CBS Colorado]

• New Rochelle swears in Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert, first Latina elected mayor of top ten city in New York [CBS New York]

• Major Studios’ Pledges to Hire More Female Filmmakers and People of Color Were ‘Performative,’ Study Finds [Variety]

• New Illinois law helps survivors of gender violence or harassment to sue their employers [Chicago Sun-Times]

• Regret After Gender-Affirming Surgery Is Largely a Myth, Experts Say [Health Day]

• Closing the Gender Gap in Humanitarian Action in Ukraine [Relief Web]