Yeah, the “powers that be” have ordered the Dean to walk back her previous position and they are doing a major PR push to try get the donors and judges to return to supporting them. Stanford is concerned about a) donor’s money; and b) federal clerkship positions for their graduating students. That’s all!
The WSJ has a opinion piece this evening from DIE Dean Steinbach herself asking for everyone to just understand what she was trying to do in allowing the First Amendment to reign free at the Judge Duncan lecture. She was trying to balance the two positions and allow everyone to speak freely. From the comments there, no one is buying it.
She wants to negotiate away First Amendment rights by stating that both free speech rights and D.I.E. principles can compromise in order that no one’s feelings are hurt.
Below is the final paragraph of DIE Dean Steinbach’s op-ed:
“Diversity, equity and inclusion plans must have clear goals that lead to greater inclusion and belonging for all community members. How we strike a balance between free speech and diversity, equity and inclusion is worthy of serious, thoughtful and civil discussion. Free speech and diversity, equity and inclusion are means to an end, and one that I think many people can actually agree on: to live in a country with liberty and justice for all its people.”
Notice how free speech advocates much first give up their First Amendment rights in order to “strike a balance”.
I don’t just say “NO”, I say “Hell NO!”. I will not negotiate from a position that says I’m a hostage to “diversity, equity, and inclusion” and must “balance” my speech to accommodate them.
Yup. “CYA.” See my #18.