Texas university admissions process ‘freedom of speech’ avoids DEI plan: ‘I have an interest in mind’

At this Texas university, admissions is “mind” over matter.

The University of Austin (UATX) – based on the principles of free speech to push back against “woke” ideas – eschews diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies for what some call MEI – beauty, excellence and intelligence, and it’s just another way. the school moves to higher education.

“We don’t consider any of this in admissions,” Pano Kanelos, the university’s president, told CBS News about race, ethnicity and gender. “The main thing we love is the mind.”

Merit, excellence and intelligence (MEI) focuses on academics and skills, particularly emphasizing “the ability to think critically,” according to Kanelos.

AUSTIN UNIVERSITY OFFERS ‘ADDITIONAL EDUCATION.’ WHY DO THE STUDENTS PRAISE THEM?

The idea reverses DEI’s increasingly controversial policies that prioritize certain races, ethnic backgrounds or other demographics in the admissions and hiring process. Once it becomes commonplace in companies and institutions of higher education, the concept seems to be losing interest as others withdraw its existence.

The University of Florida, for example, removed all of its DEI positions earlier this year to comply with state law. Alabama universities, including the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, have also disbanded their DEI offices to comply with state law.

Companies are also backing away from DEI, including retail giant Walmart, which joined the trend this week after companies like Ford, John Deere, Toyota and others did the same.

Critics of DEI suggest that such policies prioritize appearance and basic qualities over details or information. MEI critics have different concerns, however. “60 Minutes” correspondent Jon Wertheim noted that the UATX student body appears to be “not particularly unique” as it discusses admissions policy with other school founders.

TEXAS UNIVERSITY CLEARS DEI OFFICES, LAY OFF EMPLOYEES IN LIGHT OF NEW STATE LAW: REPORT

University of Austin students are accepted on merit, according to the school’s founders. (Stock)

Diversity looks different at UATX, say its founders.

“We put resources into finding the talent of intellectual diversity. And if you are interested in diversity, I recommend that you look at the social background of our students, in the family situations of our students,” the British-American historian Niall Ferguson, another member of the founding team of this university, answered.

One of its founders is Bari Weiss, a former opinion reporter for the New York Times who now runs the independent website Free Press, which promotes free speech and debate.

The admissions process – and the school itself – offers a different alternative to elite left-leaning universities such as Harvard, Yale, Columbia and their public rivals, some of which, such as the universities of Florida and Alabama, have scaled back or completely disbanded. DEI departments as the seasons change.

NEW RESEARCH FINDS DEI MEASURES CAUSE ‘INSTILE ATTRIBUTION BIAS’

DEI policies seek to eliminate racial and other inequalities by prioritizing certain groups for admission. (Stock)

Currently, UATX relies on the generosity of donors for its success, but the assumption that all donors are conservative business magnates is wrong. In fact, the free speech policy is aligned with liberal contributor Nadine Strossen, according to the article.

He insists that “punitive speech” does more harm than good. Responding to a question about “hate speech” at UATX, he replied: “What I’m concerned about is trying to eradicate the subtle attitudes of racism. You don’t do that with punishment. You do that with education, with more speech, not less.”

CLICK HERE FOR THE NEWS PROGRAM