Martin Center Publishes “End Political Litmus Tests in Education Act”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 9, 2022

Contact: Jenna A. Robinson
President
919-828-1400
jarobinson@jamesgmartin.center

Raleigh, NC—The James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal has published model legislation to prohibit colleges, universities, and public schools from requiring diversity statements from potential hires. Diversity statements serve as de facto litmus tests to gauge potential employees’ agreement with the current diversity, equity, and inclusion orthodoxy in educational institutions.

The model legislation is available here. It is a collaboration between the Martin Center, the Goldwater Institute, and Stanley Kurtz of the Ethics in Public Policy Center.

Jenna A. Robinson, president of the Martin Center, explained the need for the model, saying, “Diversity statements stifle academic freedom and insert ideology into faculty hiring. Their use undermines merit and contributes to groupthink on campus. There’s no good reason for public schools or universities to require that candidates use them.”

This model legislation provides specific policy language for policymakers and legislators. The model provides a pathway to enact laws that protect academic freedom and freedom of speech by banning diversity statements. 

New policy reform recommendations on different topics will be released by the Martin Center regularly.