DEI, EDI, DIE — whatever order the acronym comes in — advances a conformist system bereft of intellectual depth: in an academic context, Diversity means uniformity, Equality equity, and Inclusion exclusion of those who challenge the narrative.
This ideological system is unquestionably obstructing freedom in academia: “DEI statements” are now tied in with job applications, grant proposals, and criteria for promotion. For a handful of academics, writing these is an act of reverence, for most one of rhetoric; for some, it is a ritual of humiliation, since their traditional and technical work is simply unable to talk the talk of modern progressivism.
Those who set about “delivering diversity” — rather than teaching the subjects they are paid to — very often combine statistical ignorance with a complete lack of curiosity about cause and nuance. Blithe assumptions are made about what a given identity group may want introducing to, or removing from, the syllabus; patronising and offensive claims are made about what is and is not appropriate for teaching and reading; crude categories are dreamt up and imposed, and only carefully scrutinised when the results seem to point in the right direction of “representation”. Yet the question is not even posed, let alone answered, of what pool of people demands representation, and why.
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“while a sad bigotry of low expectations grows.”
“Meanwhile, class time is taken up by teaching skills that used to be instilled in school: the ability to read critically, write clearly, and structure arguments. “
It is no accident that the Humanities survived for millennia in a context where they formed an essential part of liberal education; it is no accident that most universities were founded with some religious commitment undergirding their studies. Harvard’s motto Veritas (Truth), Yale’s Lux et veritas (Light and truth), Princeton’s Dei sub numine viget (She thrives under God’s power), Oxford’s Dominus illuminatio mea (The Lord is my light) and Cambridge’s hinc lucem et pocula sacra(From here light and sacred draughts) are not idle formulations that sounded good to spin doctors. All are born from the historic importance of Christianity in the university sector.