It is up to the Board to implement the Governor’s vision by defining the provisions of the law. This draft regulation is similarly broadly conceived as the aforementioned legislation. In addition to defining a “social issue” as “a topic that polarizes or divides society between political, ideological, moral, or religious beliefs, positions, or norms,” ‘Social activity’ is defined as ‘any activity organized with a purpose’. Implementing or preventing changes in government policies, actions, functions, or activities intended to achieve desired results related to social issues. Here the university supports or promotes its position in communications, advertising and programs. “Diversity, equity, or inclusion,” on the other hand, “promotes discriminatory or preferential treatment of any individual or .”
The draft language has been circulated to public universities for comment ahead of the Nov. 8 and 9 board meetings, with final approval expected in January. Meanwhile, the legislation mandating the regulation is making its way to court.
Consider the scene when DeSantis signed SB 266. The ceremony was held at New College, Florida. New College of Florida is a public liberal arts college that was forced to make curriculum and program changes following the governor’s order. Mr. DeSantis has taken pride in systematically remaking the school, which has a long history of protests, in his own image. In January, he appointed Christopher Rufo, a conservative ideologue and opponent of education, to the university’s board of trustees. During the bill signing in May, Rufo mocked student protesters who could be heard outside. In August, after New College lost more than a third of its faculty ahead of the fall semester, DeSantis welcomed “replacing far-left faculty with new professors who align with the university’s mission.”
