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DEI Invades Community Colleges Too:A ‘glossary’ disdains merit and misdefines ‘white supremacy.’

Writer's picture: Cornell Free Speech AllianceCornell Free Speech Alliance

The principles of free inquiry and intellectual diversity are under attack in America’s institutions of higher education, and community colleges are no exception. Santi Tafarella’s recent Wall Street Journal article, DEI Invades Community Colleges Too, exposes the growing encroachment of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) ideology in the California Community Colleges system. His firsthand account illustrates the dangers of suppressing dissent and mandating ideological conformity, a concern that extends far beyond his own institution.

At the heart of this issue is the California Community Colleges system’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Glossary of Terms, a document intended to guide policy formation, hiring, faculty evaluations, and course design. However, as Tafarella makes clear, this is no mere glossary—it is a manifesto designed to enforce a radical ideological agenda. Consider its definition of "merit" as an inherently white supremacist construct, or its assertion that "colorblindness" perpetuates racism. Such assertions are not neutral descriptions of terms but rather political positions designed to shape institutional policies and suppress alternative viewpoints.



Even more troubling is the suppression of faculty dissent. Tafarella recounts a disturbing episode in which a colleague attempted to voice her concerns about the glossary during a faculty meeting, only to be shut down by a dean who dismissed her views with contempt. When Tafarella himself defended her, he was berated with obscenities and accusations. This type of coercion sends a chilling message: faculty must conform to DEI ideology or face professional and social ostracization. Such behavior is antithetical to the very mission of higher education, which should be a marketplace of ideas rather than an echo chamber of ideological dogma.


Beyond the stifling of debate, DEI policies are now directly influencing faculty hiring and promotion decisions. At Tafarella’s college, candidates for teaching positions are evaluated not only on their academic qualifications but also on their level of activism in DEI initiatives. This prioritization of ideological conformity over academic excellence degrades the integrity of our institutions and compromises the quality of education students receive.

Cornell Free Speech Alliance (CFSA) stands in solidarity with faculty members like Tafarella who are brave enough to challenge this coercive orthodoxy. Higher education should be a place where ideas are tested through rigorous debate, where diverse viewpoints are welcomed, and where academic freedom is fiercely protected. The imposition of DEI ideology undermines these values by creating an environment where dissent is not tolerated and critical thinking is subordinated to political dogma.


If left unchecked, the ideological capture of community colleges will further erode public trust in higher education. Faculty, students, and concerned citizens must push back against these efforts to politicize academia and silence dissent. The future of free thought in our educational institutions depends on it.


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