105 people signed in to watch the debate on a topic that continues to raise questions among USF students, faculty, and staff: Should we put public money toward diversity programs in higher education?
Richard Corcoran, president of New College and former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, said he believes that should not be the case. Education Trust communications director Amecia Cross said she believed it was essential.
Related: The Future of DEI at st USF: The Questions on Everyone's Questions
Both speakers took turns waiting for the moderator to clear space for rebuttals before intervening. Four University Police (UP) police officers were present to ensure everyone's safety during the event.
Steamboat Research Institute, In partnership with USF organizations such as the First Amendment Forum, College Democrats and College Republicans, we hosted a debate Wednesday night. Marshall Student Center (MSC) Oval Theater.
Carrie Sheffield, Senior Policy Analyst independent women's voice The organization moderated the discussion.
The discussion focused on Governor Ron DeSantis' education policy and the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in higher education.
Related: DeSantis eliminates funding for public university diversity programs, implements new tenure review policy
In his opening statement, Mr Corcoran said two “crusty white people” had been considered for the debate before Mr Cross was invited. She said she expected Cross to be a “beautiful black woman.”
Corcoran said terms like DEI are “great” but are being used in inappropriate ways.
He likened DEI to George Orwell's novel Animal Farm, which at the end of the book shows that all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. That's because I said it was.
Cross said American democracy is very different from democracies around the world because the country does not have a homogeneous society.
“We are built on all kinds of different cultures, religious backgrounds, ethnicities, perspectives, looks, where we come from,” Cross said. “DEI aims to ensure that individuals, regardless of their background, do not face discriminatory practices.”
Part of the college experience is embracing change, leaning into the uncomfortable and learning things they can't teach you at home, Cross said.
The debate was followed by a question and answer session where students submitted their questions through a form link, which was then sent through a QR code. Ms. Sheffield said she received 66 questions from the audience.
Corcoran said he agrees with DeSantis that DEI is “discrimination, absolute exclusion, and indoctrination.”
Cross disagrees, saying DEI conversations are important because continued inequalities make it difficult for Black people to reach full equity, individualism, and American values. Ta.
“Black history is American history,” Cross said. “You can't talk about slavery without talking about the impact it had on the black community and the economic structure that was built with the support of black people in this country.”
The host asked Corcoran whether he thought racism existed in America. Corcoran said he agrees that racism exists in America and can only be fixed with an overall “change” in the education system.
Three students seated in the center section of the theater began their own discussion regarding the moderator's questions. Immediately, the students were hushed by First Amendment Forum President Tyler Tone, who was sitting in the front row.
Two of the students moved back from the interaction.
Mr Concoran said family systems influence people's education and at some point the indicators matter, as people who graduate with both parents at home are “90% more likely to succeed”.
In her final statement, Cross said that although she was not raised by two parents, she graduated with a double major.
Participants and speakers headed to MSC 3705 for a meet-and-greet reception with food and drinks, where they followed up the discussion with conversation.
Mr. Kocalan and Mr. Cross both answered students' questions in a more casual setting while eating fried chicken from Publix.
Cross said cultural student organization meetings function more effectively when students from outside the culture participate, because there are no “exclusionary practices associated with striving for equity.” He said it was the body.
“We don't need to teach Black students a lot of history about Black people because we've already been there and done that,” Cross said. “Unless something like Michael Jackson happens, we are born black and we will die black.”
Additional reporting by Julia Saad
