Diversity

On Feb. 14, the Trump administration sent out a memo to the nation’s schools and colleges, giving them two weeks to end any race-conscious enrolling, hiring, training, and diversity programs lest they be cut off from federal funding. As the deadline approaches, many schools are reviewing their programs to see if anything needs to be changed.

Players Circle Theater is mounting a production of playwright Joshua Harmon’s multi-award-winning play “Admissions.” The family drama explores themes of race, diversity and privilege. We explore the play in a conversation with Players Circle Theater’s Bob Cacioppo, Carrie Lund Cacioppo and Harvey Evans.

Black student-athletes should reconsider attending public colleges and universities in Florida, the NAACP said in a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker on Monday.The letter was in response to the University of Florida and other state schools that have eliminated their diversity, equity and inclusion programs. It was also addressed to current and prospective student-athletes.

A federal appeals court Monday rejected restrictions that Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican lawmakers placed on addressing race-related issues in workplace training — part of a controversial 2022 law that DeSantis dubbed the “Stop WOKE Act.”A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the restrictions violated First Amendment rights.

Carrying out parts of a controversial 2023 law, the State Board of Education on Wednesday approved rules that will prevent colleges from spending money on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and remove a sociology class from a list of “core” courses.The rules stem from a law (SB 266) approved in May by the Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis. The governor, who has been traveling the country for months in his presidential campaign, has made fighting against diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives a pillar of his education agenda.

Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed six new trustees at New College of Florida in January and they have already begun radically changing the state’s public honors college. Critics say it all amounts to a conservative overhaul of the small, traditionally progressive college with about 700 students. We talk with a current professor, a current student, and a New College alumnus, to get their reactions to what’s unfolding.

A joint statement by Florida’s 28 state colleges said they stand for educational freedom and democratic citizenship, and reject what they termed as "indoctrination" and "woke" ideology. FCGU is not part of the Florida College System.

At least once a year, Players Circle Theater Artistic Director Bob Cacioppo like to produce a hip new play that's the talk of New York. So, he's heralding in the new year with “Admissions,” a family drama that places diversity and minority preferences front and center. With a story about white entitlement and guilt that's ripped from today's headline, the play is the latest offering by “Bad Jews” playwright Joshua Harmon, who Cacioppo calls the next Arthur Miller.

State colleges and universities have until Jan. 13 to submit information to the DeSantis administration about resources related to diversity, equity and inclusion and critical race theory.

The 2020 U.S. Census data shows that Fort Myers has not only grown in population, but that its composition has changed drastically too, with a significant bump in diversity.