On March 20, 2024, Alabama joined the chorus of states such as Texas, Florida and Utah that are banning Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs. These laws, such as SB129 in Alabama, primarily target academic institutions and ensure that no public funding will be made available for events, classes, and other activities encompassed under the DEI umbrella.

We firmly and vehemently oppose this thinly-veiled racism, misogyny, anti-LGBTQIA bias, and ableism. Per the NEA, DEI efforts have aided in “creating and sustaining environments that support students and faculty who have been traditionally underrepresented on college campuses, that make them feel safe and welcome – and treat them fairly – after decades of exclusionary practices and policies.” Legislators behind the bans are unfairly and intentionally mischaracterizing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion  as “divisive concepts”. These same legislators claim they stand for academic freedom and inclusion while in reality they are sewing division and undermining confidence in public academic institutions. The goals of these laws could not be more transparent: they are designed to ensure that straight, white, male, cisgender, able-bodied persons remain at the center of scholarly thought and activity. 

Given the current political climate, it has been suggested to us that we change the name of the Institute for the Quantitative Study of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity, aka the QSIDE Institute. We will not be intimidated, nor will we abandon our commitment to the ideals and principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice. We stand proudly in our work in the DEI space, on the shoulders of those who came before us, in solidarity with those committed to the moral imperative that it represents. It is incumbent upon all justice-minded people to stand up in this moment against these lawmakers, and against pressure to abandon the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion in this country. Together, we can build a more just and equitable society for all.

In solidarity and service, the QSIDE leadership team:

Karen Walker, Member-at-Large, Board of Directors
Chad Topaz, Chief Research Officer
Zofia Stanley, Associate Director of Research
Alisa Malone, Member-at-Large, Board of Directors
Lotti Knowles, Director of Communications
Jude Higdon, Chief Operations Officer
Tyrone Bass, Associate Director of Operations