FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, February 10, 2025
President Petersen Calls on Arizona's Public Universities
to End Illegal, Discriminatory DEI Programs
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Senate President Warren Petersen is calling on Arizona's public universities to end all illegal Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) programs, and to restore commonsense merit-based opportunities for students, faculty, and staff.
In a letter sent today to Arizona State University President Dr. Michael Crow, University of Arizona President Dr. Suresh Garimella, and Northern Arizona University President Dr. José Luis Cruz Rivera, President Petersen requests compliance with an executive order issued by President Donald Trump last month, which ends all discriminatory activities associated with DEI practices and programs. President Petersen also requests each institution identify and publicly release a plan for compliance with the order.
Arizona's public universities, as well as the Arizona Board of Regents, have demonstrated a troubling track record of using tax dollars to implement DEI programs. Examples include job postings addressing commitments to DEI, required trainings for staff and faculty that push discriminatory ideas of "critiquing whiteness" and "heterosexuality is privileged and going unquestioned," as well as requiring students to obtain credits in DEI-related courses like "Introduction to Queer Studies" and "Multicultural Perspectives of Natural Resource Management."
"DEI is discrimination, plain and simple. President Trump is bringing the United States back from a dark era created by the radical left where favoritism is provided based on skin color, sexuality, and gender. We will instead once again be a commonsense nation that rewards individuals on merit, skills, experience, qualifications, and work-ethic," said President Petersen. "I look forward to Arizona's public universities setting the standard for excellence in higher education instead of imposing corrupt, costly, and unethical activist ideologies that only harm students and society at large. Failure to comply will likely result in these institutions losing federal dollars and being slapped with expensive lawsuits, which will translate into much higher tuition costs for Arizona students and families."
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus
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