OU Institutes Mandatory 5 Hours of "Diversity and Inclusivity" Training

"Diversity and inclusivity is at the core of who we are as Sooners.”

The University of Oklahoma, home to the infamous Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) chapter whose racist party-chant went viral last spring resulting in immediate closure of the fraternity and expulsion of two members, is proudly unveiling a mandatory “diversity training program” for all incoming freshmen.

The program is predominantly the work of newly-hired African-American administrator Jabar Shumate, who will fill the newly-created position of Vice President for University Community. It will require that all freshmen complete five hours of “diversity and inclusivity” training during their freshman year.

As Shumate proudly explained to The Oklahoma Daily, there will be no avoiding the mandatory training:

Freshmen that do not go to Camp Crimson and receive the training there will receive it if they take a gateway course, according to Shumate. If they do not take a gateway course, certain courses that are approved by a committee will be able to infuse the diversity curriculum into the course’s curriculum. If a student does not participate in any of those, they must take a stand-alone diversity training, Shumate said.

“We really want students from the start at OU to understand that diversity and inclusivity is at the core of who we are as Sooners,” Shumate stated.

While the OU administration is eager to showcase the lengths it will go to in order to ensure that all students participate in the diversity training, it has been silent on the topic of what punishments may lie in store for students who refuse to enroll in the program. Given OU President David Boren’s quick action in expelling two students who purportedly played a “leadership role” in the racist SAE chant—in possible violation of the First Amendment—caution seems advised.

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