Florida Atlantic University Students Protest Proposed Bill Restricting Diversity, Equity and Inclusive Education

BOCA RATON, Florida. The state’s controversial legislation targeting higher education sparked a backlash at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton on Wednesday.

If passed HB 999, among other things, prohibits universities or colleges from using money to promote, support, or support programs that support diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Some college students fear this is an infringement on their right to a free education.

SPECIAL COATING: Education

Free minds, free country. This was a message in which dozens of FAU students gathered on Wednesday to advocate for their education, urging others to join them.

Singing filled the air at the FAU as a group of students and some faculty members rallied different voices against HB 999.

One of those voices belonged to Trey Santorin. A sociology graduate student said that this was his first political activity, and that was good.

“One of the most troubling things that I think we can all agree on is, regardless of your policy, government censorship of education,” Santorin said.

The law is aimed at the practice of higher education.

“When we are allowed to discuss openly, read openly, think openly, democracy thrives,” said student Megan Spring.

This group fears the bill will limit what they can study, restrict diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives, and further marginalize certain groups as it removes major and minor subjects in gender studies and other areas.

“It sets a precedent that, at public universities, our government has the right to ban us from what is not proven,” Spring said.

Admissions consultant and FAU alumnus Ilse Kroes joined the group on the lawn. She hopes to become a professor one day.

“It makes me nervous because it’s so unconstitutional,” Cruz said. “Why will we be censored for what we have to teach our students? We need to know what happened in the past in order to progress and move forward.”

So as long as this group watches and waits to see what happens in the state legislature, they will continue to speak out for their future.

“We are trying to make our voices heard. But what’s also worrying is that it doesn’t seem to be stopping,” Santorin said.

The group at the FAU is also hosting a Wednesday night webinar with local lawmakers, including Democratic Senator Tiny Polsky and Senator Lori Berman, to talk more about what the bill means and the possible implications.