Walter Cronkite journalism school won't let prospective propagandists graduate without taking radical DEI course

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A top journalism school has recently come under scrutiny over its requirement that prospective propagandists sit through a mandatory DEI course.

In order to graduate, journalism majors dumping over $13,000 a year into Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism will have to learn how to check their supposed straight privilege; how to conform to gender ideologues' current speech codes; how to avoid the sin of "microaggressions"; and why innocuous turns of phrase are racist.

According to the course listing, "Diversity and Civility at Cronkite" at the taxpayer-funded ASU emphasizes "the importance of diversity, inclusion, equity and civility to ensure all Cronkite students feel represented, valued and supported."

The course, which is presently taught by Venita Hawthorne James, apparently offers "training and awareness on cultural sensitivities, civil discourse, bias awareness and diversity initiatives at the Cronkite School and ASU" and "empowers students to approach reporting and communication projects with a multicultural perspective."

While the language employed in the listing is not particularly provocative, it is clear from documents obtained via public record requests by the Goldwater Institute, a libertarian think tank, that "Diversity and Civility" is indeed a radical DEI course intended to ideologically condition students.

The Goldwater Institute noted that an instructor noted in one syllabus that "Diversity and Civility is an entry level course to bring thoughtful, open minded discourse to issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, income, geography, and age."

Another syllabus, more bold in its framing, noted that the course "sets the tone for your Crokite interactions. ... Think of this class as the first step in your DEI — diversity, equity, and inclusion — practice as a journalist or communications professional."

Among the course's seven units is one on race and ethnicity and another on sexuality and gender ideology.

Future talking heads and journalists will reportedly learn all about so-called microaggressions. This lesson entails reviewing examples of "racial microaggressions" detailed on a University of Minnesota webpage, such as:

  • "Denial of individual racism[:] A statement made when Whites deny their racial biases";
  • the "Myth of meritocracy" or saying the "most qualified person should get the job"; and
  • the "notion that the values and communication styles of the dominant / White culture are ideal."

Students will also learn that it is deeply problematic to suggest that "everyone can succeed in this society, if they work hard enough."

Besides learning about the dangers of extolling hard work and rejecting accusations of racism, the Goldwater Institute indicated that journalism majors compelled to take this course will also come to understand the "difference between sexuality and gender identity and why it matters" and "recognize privileges related to sexuality and gender identity."

To ensure ideological uniformity at the level of language use, the course reportedly refers students to an NPR guide created in concert with the radical activist group GLAAD — whose communication director recently attacked a gay reporter online for sharing scientific evidence that undercut gender ideologues' preferred narrative.

The guide, which is supposedly intended to "help people communicate accurately," claims that sex is "assigned at birth" and that a normal person free of gender dysphoria ought to be referred to as "cisgender." It also recommends providing one's pronouns when making introductions.

One instructor who has taught the course has reportedly introduced students to examples of "Hetrosexual [sic] Privileges," "Male Privileges," and "Cisgender Privileges."

The author of these lists is Sam Killermann, a radical LGBT activist who also created the "Genderbread Person" now circulated in some schools.

Killermann's lists make abundantly clear that he has an axe to grind.

"Raising, adopting, and teaching children without people believing that you will molest them or force them into your sexuality" is one straight privilege, according to Killerman. Another is "freely teaching about lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals without being seen has having a bias because of your sexuality or forcing your 'homosexual agenda' on students."

The Goldwater Institute underlined how in the third recommended reading, Killermann suggests that women's locker rooms, bathrooms, and prisons should be open to men who claim to be females.

At the end of the gender identity unit, future journalists are tasked with figuring out how to prepare journalists to speak with a theoretical "nonbinary" client who refers to herself as a plurality.

Faculty at the school voted in fall 2021 to add the mandatory course to "advance the understanding and practice of diversity and inclusion."

The college told the Epoch Times that the "goal of the course is to help students appreciate people's differences and to channel disagreements toward civil discussion."

A spokesman for the Cronkite School also indicated that students may opt out of specific discussions by reaching out to their professor with a request ahead of time.

Timothy Minella, senior constitutionalism fellow at the Goldwater Institute's Van Sittert Center for Constitutional Advocacy, told the Epoch Times, "Students who decide to major in these subjects are not necessarily signing up to be progressive activists."

"A public university that should be serving the entire public, not just the liberal slice of it, needs to return to its core mission of education, not indoctrination," added Minealla.

The Goldwater Institute noted in its report, "Indeed, it is difficult to reconcile such practices with the explicit directives of the Arizona state constitution, which declares in Article XI, Section 6: 'The university and all other state educational institutions shall be open to students of both sexes, and the instruction furnished shall be as nearly free as possible.'"

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Professor sues ASU over taxpayer-funded 'inclusive communities' training: 'Racism under the guise of DEI'

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An Arizona State University professor filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the school over its "ASU Inclusive Communities" training.

The Goldwater Institute filed the complaint on behalf of Owen Anderson, who has taught philosophy and religious studies at Arizona State University for more than two decades. According to the legal firm, Anderson could face disciplinary action for his refusal to take the university's "discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion" training.

"I shouldn't be forced to take training and affirm ideas with which I disagree as a condition of employment,'" Owen stated. "This 'training' is simply racism under the guise of DEI. It goes against my conscience, and I want no part of it."

Goldwater Staff Attorney Stacy Skankey noted that state law bans taxpayer funds from being used to "teach doctrines that discriminate based on race, ethnicity, sex, and other characteristics."

"ASU is essentially forcing its employees to agree to a certain type of speech, which violates the Arizona Constitution's broad protections for free speech," Skankey said.

The lawsuit argues that the ASU Inclusive Communities training teaches the faculty DEI theories, "including things like 'how ... white supremacy [is] normalized in society,' how to 'critique whiteness'; 'white privilege'; 'white fragility'; and the need for 'transformative justice.'" It also addresses land acknowledgments and outlines differences between "equality" and "equity."

According to the complaint, faculty are required to take an online quiz on the concepts taught in the training. Staff who fail the test will "be reported to their supervising dean," the law firm claimed.

Anderson reportedly viewed the training but did not complete it.

Before filing the lawsuit, the Goldwater Institute sent a cease and desist letter to the Arizona Board of Regents demanding the school stop using taxpayer dollars to fund such training.

"ASU continues to spend taxpayer money on the ASU Inclusive Communities training and continues to require that public employees take this training, in violation of state law. ASU continues to mandate that employees take a quiz following the Inclusive Communities training and attest their allegiance to these principles by selecting 'correct' answers, thereby compelling ASU employees' speech, in violation of the Arizona Constitution," the legal firm stated.

Anderson wrote on X Tuesday, "When people see the content of this required training they are stunned. It is far beyond learning how to work in a diverse setting. Instead, it is about race blame, 'whiteness,' and silencing those who disagree."

ASU claims that the training allows the school to maintain a diverse student body, and it denies the lawsuit's allegations that the training violates the state's constitution, the Arizona Republic reported.

Veronica Sanchez, a spokesperson for ASU, told the Arizona Republic, "Arizona State University is committed to the success of each one of its students who come from all 50 states, 150 different countries and all socio-economic backgrounds."

"To help meet that goal, consistent with A.R.S [41-1494], ASU provides its employees Inclusive Communities training which promotes an environment of respect for all backgrounds, beliefs, and life experiences," she added.

Sanchez also argued that the quiz at the end of the training is not required.

ASU stated that it has yet to receive a copy of the lawsuit.

The Board of Regents did not respond to the Arizona Republic's request for comment.

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