After a battle with some of their area legislators over fallout from an event held at Arkansas Tech earlier in the year, the University’s Department of Inclusion and Diversity has survived an attempt to get it’s state funding withheld.
Drew Brent reports via online news site The Local Rundown that the University and the Legislature have come to an agreement that would keep funds flowing.
“Several members of the Arkansas General Assembly have raised concerns about the Arkansas Tech University Department of Diversity and Inclusion. The ATU Board of Trustees and our administration have worked with them to address their concerns.” said ATU President Dr. Robin Bowen in a statement. “This collaborative effort has resulted in providing a positive path forward to continue the department whose primary focus will be to attract, retain and graduate minority students. We will continue to work to ensure that all students are provided a safe, respectful institution where they can pursue and achieve their degree.”
The Local Rundown did extensive reporting on the issue when local House members Rep. Trevor Drown (R-Dover) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R-Perryville) had made the threats to take the money away after the University held an event called Sex On The Lawn on March 9th, where some of the items that were included in the presentation were allegedly found offensive by constituents. In Brent’s article last week, Drown had mentioned other events where he believed situations involving transgender students and reportedly a drag show that had taken place on campus, leading many to believe the University was promoting an agenda that was counteractive to the values held by most in the Arkansas River Valley.
“We’re starting to see a lifestyle that is being forced on its population.” Drown told TLR.
There was no indication outside of Bowen’s statement as to what the terms of the agreement between the school and legislators entailed.
Grant Merrill
Grant Merrill is the Publisher of InsideFortSmith.Com, and owner of parent company Great Plains Digital Media. Prior to jumping into the digital world, he was a longtime sports talk show host on stations across Arkansas. E-Mail: grant@greatplainsdigital.com
