UAA Chancellor Sean Parnell. Photo by Justin Cox.
UAA Chancellor Sean Parnell sent an email to the UAA community on Wednesday, Feb. 26, underscoring free speech rights and clarifying how UAA is implementing a motion passed by the University of Alaska Board of Regents.
The Board of Regents oversees and sets policy for the University of Alaska system, which includes UAA, UAS and UAF.
The board directed chancellors on Feb. 21 to remove DEI-related language from university communications and websites and change operations and programs to align with federal guidance related to DEI.
Parnell sent his email amid backlash to the motion.
UAF professor Abel Bult-Ito criticized the board’s motion in an opinion piece published in The Northern Light. He called the board’s actions unconstitutional and a violation of the First Amendment.
The chairs of the University of Alaska Faculty Alliance also criticized the board in an opinion piece published in the Anchorage Daily News.
They pointed out the inconsistencies of the board’s motion with the university’s commitment to freedom of speech in university policy.
Parnell’s email addressed the backlash.
“This decision touches deeply held values, and has created strong reactions amongst our university and community partners.”
Parnell wrote about the board’s commitment to freedom of speech and academic freedom, noting constitutional protections.
Parnell wrote that the Board of Regents “also affirmed individual rights related to freedom of expression and academic freedom” and “the (Alaska) constitution also protects your rights as individuals to speak, write and publish freely on all subjects.”
The Board of Regents included language in their motion recognizing the university’s commitment to free speech and academic freedom.
According to the motion, “all actions taken should be viewed through the lens and be respectful of our long-standing values supporting freedom of expression and academic freedom, as currently outlined in Board of Regents' Policies and University Regulations.”
The Board of Regents' policy on free speech limits the university’s ability to curtail speech of university community members:
“The essential purpose of the university is to engage in the pursuit of truth, the advancement of learning and the dissemination of knowledge. To achieve this purpose, all members of the university must be assured of the constitutionally protected right to question, speculate, and comment, as well as the right to criticize the university and society at large. The university will not limit or abridge any individual's constitutional right to free speech.”
Regarding implementation of the motion, Parnell wrote that UAA will start with the elimination of DEI-related terms first:
“UAA will be intentional and attentive in implementing the board’s directives, and this process is currently underway. We will make modifications with care, focusing first on the terms articulated by the board.”
The board called for the university system to stop using “affirmative action,” “DEI,” “diversity,” “equity,” “inclusion,” and “other associated terms” in communications and online.
At a USUAA meeting on Feb. 28, Parnell said UAA was not considering other associated terms because it was too ambiguous.
While academic freedom was recognized in the motion, at least one professor has reported requests from university administration to make changes to curriculum.
According to an article from KTOO, a professor at UAS reported being asked to change a course name and description.
Kathy DiLorenzo teaches classes on public administration.
She said she was asked by an administrator to change the title and description of a class called, “The Role of Leadership in DEI in the Public Sector.”
According to KTOO, DiLorenzo pushed back on the request and was told she could keep it as is.
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