Gov. Pillen praises UNLs decision to dissolve Office of Diversity and Inclusion [Video]

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s recent decision to close its Office of Diversity and Inclusion and eliminate the vice chancellor position that directed its efforts drew mixed reactions throughout the state Wednesday.

UNL Chancellor Rodney Bennett made the announcement in a letter to students and staff on Tuesday, saying, “I fully grasp the weight of this decision and its implications, but a centralized approach to this work is no longer right for our institution.”

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion was originally created in 2018, and the vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion position has been held by Dr. Marco Barker since 2019.

The ACLU of Nebraska called the change that follows a nationwide wave of universities and colleges defunding or outright banning similar programs “deeply troubling”. In Nebraska, LB 1330, which attempted to prohibit public educational institutions from requiring employees to engage in a diversity, equity, and inclusion program, spending money on a DEI program or establishing a DEI office, …