Victoria Swanson

  • signed Defend Diversity at UT-Knoxville: Veto SB1912 2016-04-22 20:11:01 -0500
    Dear Governor Haslam,


    How any legislative branch in the modern era could figure out a way to make diversity initiatives seem like a bad idea is beyond all reason. Employers are SEEKING a workforce with diversity training, so the whole “is this worth the money” fight is baseless. Students, faculty, and the wider university community are all served by the University of Tennessee’s office of Diversity and Inclusion. Military students are served, disabled students are served, Native American students are served, students with disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds are served, folks who are first-generation college students are served—-so the “conservative” legislature’s argument that this is all about gender-neutral pronouns and racial minority students is baseless and, quite honestly, makes Tennessee look like a backwater joke to the rest of the nation.


    We—taxpaying citizens of Tennessee—DEMAND that you take a stance against these strong-arm punitive tactics by the state legislature and you VETO B1912/HB2248 to protect the vital work that UT’s office of Diversity and Inclusion does for the wider campus community. How long are we going to stand by and watch and do NOTHING while a small contingent of ignorant elected officials meddle in business that should be left to the purview of the university’s board of Trustees? How many more bits of junk legislature designed to put a stranglehold on ideas and social development are we supposed to endure from the irresponsible, clearly bigoted faction of Tennessee “lawmakers” before a voice of reason finally cries out to say ENOUGH and stop this nonsense?


    Governor Haslam, it is YOUR JOB to make sure that this legislation gets vetoed as it is in the best interest of a wide number of your constituents and the people of Tennessee that our flagship university is viewed by the WORLD as a place that embraces diversity and inclusion. If you fail to veto B1912/HB2248 you are failing your state and its people, sir. Please do the right thing and stand up for diversity and inclusion at the University of Tennessee.

    Defend Diversity at UT-Knoxville: Veto SB1912

    The Legislature passed SB1912/HB2248 that removes funding from the Office for Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.  Sign this petition that we will deliver to Governor Haslam asking him to veto the bill.

    2,097 signatures

    Governor Haslam, we call on you to veto SB1912/HB2248 and protect the University of Tennessee-Knoxville's Office for Diversity and Inclusion.  The office plays a vital role in making the university competitive for the best students, faculty, and staff and it makes campus life welcoming for all.  Thank you for considering our views.

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