Iowa (RI) — The Iowa Board of Regents approved a revised policy this week that says faculty at the three state universities may teach controversial subjects as long as they don’t include indoctrination of one perspective.
Regent David Barker says this is important in light of recent videos that purport to show faculty at some schools trying to undermine the law against DEI initiatives.
Barker says any subject can be discussed as long as there is no censoring of viewpoints.
He says critical race theory, for example, could be taught in this way.
Regent Nancy Dunkel disagreed, saying it’s important to maintain academic freedom.
Dunkel says they should change the title of the provisions to “restrictions of academic freedom.”
Dunkel says calling something controversial is ambiguous, because it depends on who is deciding what is controversial.
The revision passed on a 7-1 vote with Dunkel the only Regent to vote against the policy. Student Regent Lucy Gipple was not at the meeting. The policy change takes place immediately.
