Senate committee hears debate over Diversity Act for public universities

Intro: Missouri's public universities face scrutiny for a lack of intellectual diversity. Kevin Gehl (GAIL) reports on a proposal for a university Diversity Act. RunTime:
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Alumni and professors clashed during a Senate committee hearing over a new Diversity Act for public universities.

Representative Jane Cunningham of Chesterfield proposed a plan to increase political and social freedom for students through House Bill 213.

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Description: "I think that what we are looking for from our universities is value, not indoctrination."

Cunningham's testimony was followed by Emily Brooker, a Missouri State alumnus who claims a professor forced his political beliefs upon his students.

Strict opposition was provided by faculty from Truman State and Missouri National Education lobbyist Otto Fajen, who said the bill would do little to enact change in the classroom.

From the state Capitol, I'm Kevin Gehl.

Intro: Students and faculty oppose a House Bill to increase intellectual diversity in public universities. Kevin Gehl (GAIL) reports from the state Capitol. RunTime:
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Representative Jane Cunningham's bill to broaden social ideology in university classrooms was called misguided by student representatives from MU and Lincoln University.

The bill to form a university Diversity Act faced strict opposition from students and faculty members of public universities.

Missouri National Education Association lobbyist Otto Fajen questioned the use of a diversity act in the student admission process.

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Description: "Are we going to be looking at these criteria to decide who gets into college?"

Currently, the bill is awaiting a vote by the Senate education committee.

From the state Capitol, I'm Kevin Gehl.

Intro: MSU alumnus fights back after professor forces students to write letters supporting homsexual adoption to state legislator. Kevin Gehl (GAIL) reports from the state Capitol. RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

Emily Brooker told a Senate committee that a professor at Missouri State University-Springfield forced her to write a letter to a state legislator in favor of an issue she did not support.

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Description: "The professor assigned a letter on homsexual fostering and adoption and I said this is not something I wish to support on a political avenue."

Brooker was forced by the university to sign a special contract, detailing what she would and would not do as a student.

In response, Brooker joined forces with Representative Jane Cunningham to push a house bill guaranteeing students freedom from their professors' political beliefs.

Currently, the bill is awaiting a vote by the Senate education committee.

From the state Capitol, I'm Kevin Gehl.