Ruth Bailey, a UNL student journalist associated with the Nebraska News Service reported this week “Dozens of Nebraskans lined the rows and walls of Room 1525 at the Nebraska Capitol, waiting to testify during the education committee hearing last Tuesday.

The hearing, lasting late into Tuesday night, saw more than 70 people testify in-person and more than 500 people submit online testimony about LB 1330, a bill aimed at eliminating some diversity, equity and inclusion–better known as DEI–programs for public educational institutions. 

LB 1330, introduced on Jan. 17 by Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, has gained national attention.

Helen Fagan, a Nebraska educator, said that fear isn’t just a consequence of the bill, but fear is at the heart of the bill.

However, Murman said his bill is the trend of the future. He acknowledged the history of discrimination marginalized communities have faced, but he said he believes the bill will promote equality by only judging people based on merit. 

Sixty-two people testified against LB 1330, many of them college students. 

However, two university students supported the bill–Olivia Nelson, who attends Doane University, and Ethan Friedman, who attends UNL. 

“This pivotal piece of legislation seeks to safeguard the principles of academic freedom and intellectual rigor within our public education institutions,” Olivia Nelson, a Doane University student, said. “At the heart of this bill lies a fundamental commitment to preserving the integrity of education as a forum for free inquiry, critical thinking and open discourse.”

Another proponent for LB 1330, Doug Keagen, said DEI stands for division, exclusion and indoctrination. According to Keagen, instead of focusing on racial and ethnic differences, universities should encourage a diversity of viewpoints and political beliefs, especially conservative beliefs. 

According to “The Chronicle of Higher Education,” over the past two years, nine anti-DEI bills have been signed into law.

In his closing remarks, Murman also reiterated that the bill has no language referring to DEI programs that address disability, immigrants or first-generation students. Additionally, sexual harassment training would be protected under the bill. 

“It’s all about equality of opportunity, not equality of outcomes,” Murman said, concluding his testimony. 

We understand why DEI was proposed. It includes goals we agree with but it also has provisions we disagree with. It goes to far in mandating what must be done. Quotas, for example will not solve the problems it seeks to address. We agree with For that reason we opposed DEI and want to encourage those who are resisting some of the forced changes.

We agree with Doug Keagen who said DEI stands for division, exclusion and indoctrination.

While the DEI movement has some lofty goals, it appears the DEI supporters want to exclude the conservative values of many Americans.

It is a movement we need to closely monitor.