Written by: Chiara Espinal
Edited by: Michael Shalonov
On February 21, 2023, the Florida House Bill 999 or HB999 – titled Public Postsecondary Educational Institutions – was introduced by Florida state Rep. Alex Andrade, which "prohibits a state college, state university, or one of their direct-support organizations, from expending state or federal funds on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs or activities" (Kasprak). The passage of HB 999 has sparked considerable debate over concerns related to protecting DEI programs and certain majors at institutions of higher education. The legislation lists the potential of specific courses to be “unproven, theoretical, or exploratory” in nature and seeks to increase the authority of the Florida Board of Governors in regulating state-funded higher education programs. The bill aims to increase this authority by eliminating tenures for professors and imposing limits on programs pertaining to "Critical Race Theory" and other DEI programs. The bill now awaits action in the Senate, but several minority organizations, such as black and multicultural fraternity and sororities, have taken a stand against the bill's unspoken agenda related to the future of minority organizations that have been around for decades.
The vague language combined with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' prior actions in the Florida education sector has sparked many concerns over the law’s effect on courses and organizations, specifically regarding their ability to discuss topics of race and inequality. Florida’s State University System currently holds top spot as the number one university system in the country. However, it goes without saying that significant changes are likely underway if HB 999 makes its way into law. Supporters of the bill claim that changes spurred by HB 999 are essential to reversing the overly-liberal nature of state colleges and universities, asserting that its passage is necessary to combat the “tactics of liberal elites who suppress free thought in the name of identity politics and indoctrination,” according to a news release from the office of Gov. Ron DeSantis (Kasprak).
Additionally, a viral Twitter post stating that HB 999 would ban "NPHC organizations" and "NMGC & Latinx organizations" resulted in an immediate outcry for action against the bill. The former National Pan-Hellenic Council is known as a fundamental “umbrella organization” that supports historically Black Greek-letter fraternities and sororities. On a similar note, the National Multicultural Greek Council is a coalition of Multicultural Greek-letter organizations that are equally threatened by the passage of HB 999. While HB 999 does not make any explicit motions to ban these institutions, students and alumni fear that the language of the law itself could potentially be used to endanger these organizations in the near future.
For instance, the law itself specifically prohibits "expenditure for membership in, or the purchase of goods or services from, any organization that discriminates on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or religion,” (McKeiver). Although the purpose of Black and Multicultural Greek-letter organizations is entirely the opposite, HB 999 has not expressed a definitive stance on the future of these organizations.
More recently, Governor Ron DeSantis’ office has responded to First Coast News with a statement disproving rumors that Black and Multicultural organizations would no longer be allowed to operate at colleges and universities. However, if HB 999 would ban colleges from supporting “any programs or campus activities that espouse diversity, equity, or inclusion,” it is hard to say whether Governor DeSantis’ statement offers any real solace. Another state representative, Angie Nixon, proposed an amendment protecting these fraternities and sororities, but no such amendment has been adopted. Although the bill does not introduce any explicit bans on “minority-focused Greek life,” there remains a dark cloud over unrelated minority organizations and a variety of DEI courses and majors.
[The views expressed in this article are those of the author and the author alone; they do not necessarily represent the views of all members of the RULR Editorial Board and Rutgers University]
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