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.

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.

Who's signing

Keller Hawkins
Sarah Eldridge
Bonnie Ownley
Aniket Ghare
Sarah MacLachlan
Tessa Clarke
Azra Karabegovic
Nerea Ouma
Sheila Rice
Rory Douthard
Katie dierberger
2,097 SIGNATURES
2,500 signatures

Will you sign?

  • Keller Hawkins
    signed via 2016-04-22 20:29:50 -0500
  • Judith Kliban Bixby
    signed 2016-04-22 20:29:29 -0500
  • Ann Pretzer
    signed 2016-04-22 20:22:58 -0500
  • Sarah Eldridge
    signed via 2016-04-22 20:21:40 -0500
  • Brianna Davis
    signed 2016-04-22 20:13:21 -0500
  • Victoria Swanson
    signed 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.
  • Anthony Knowles
    signed via 2016-04-22 20:07:24 -0500
  • Wesley Adkins
    signed 2016-04-22 20:03:11 -0500
  • Bonnie Ownley
    signed 2016-04-22 20:01:42 -0500
  • Melissa Saldiveri
    signed 2016-04-22 19:59:55 -0500
  • Aniket Ghare
    signed 2016-04-22 19:56:31 -0500
  • Brooks Terry
    signed 2016-04-22 19:49:23 -0500
  • Andrea Johnson
    signed 2016-04-22 19:46:33 -0500
  • Sarah MacLachlan
    signed via 2016-04-22 19:41:53 -0500
  • Diane Easter
    signed 2016-04-22 19:35:05 -0500
  • Amanda Gentry
    signed 2016-04-22 19:33:55 -0500
    Please veto this hurtful bill. This Office is very important to the very diverse UT student and faculty populations. It seems to me that these bills are based out of fear and lack of understanding. Please Veto! Thank you.
  • Nancy Mott
    posted about this on Facebook 2016-04-22 19:30:50 -0500
    Sign the petition: Defend Diversity at UT-Knoxville: Veto SB1912
  • Nancy Mott
    @NancyMott1 tweeted link to this page. 2016-04-22 19:30:48 -0500
  • Tessa Clarke
    signed 2016-04-22 19:25:56 -0500
  • Azra Karabegovic
    signed 2016-04-22 19:24:37 -0500
  • Nerea Ouma
    signed via 2016-04-22 19:20:00 -0500
  • Annick La Reine Shimwa
    signed via 2016-04-22 19:17:26 -0500
  • Paul Law
    signed 2016-04-22 19:07:56 -0500
  • Charles Slagal
    posted about this on Facebook 2016-04-22 19:03:22 -0500
    Sign the petition: Defend Diversity at UT-Knoxville: Veto SB1912
  • Charles Slagal
    signed 2016-04-22 19:02:58 -0500
  • Michael Robertson
    signed 2016-04-22 19:00:32 -0500
    Diversity is needed in all places and spaces.
  • Sheila Rice
    signed via 2016-04-22 18:57:04 -0500
  • Rory Douthard
    posted about this on Facebook 2016-04-22 18:54:11 -0500
    Sign the petition: Defend Diversity at UT-Knoxville: Veto SB1912
  • Rory Douthard
    signed 2016-04-22 18:53:38 -0500
  • Katie dierberger
    signed via 2016-04-22 18:48:47 -0500

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