Stanford requires student DEI statement, raising ‘compelled speech’ concerns

Karah Rucker

IF A STUDENT AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY WANTS TO ENROLL IN A GLOBAL MARKETING COURSE –

THEY FIRST HAVE TO GIVE A DEI STATEMENT SEEN HERE  –

DESCRIBING HOW THEY “WILL CONTRIBUTE TO A CULTURE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION” IN THE CLASS.

AN ANSWER – IS REQUIRED FOR ENROLLMENT.

THIS SCREENSHOT WAS FIRST SHARED BY JONATHAN RAUCH ON X –

A SENIOR FELLOW AT THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTE.

RAUCH EXPRESSED CONCERNS THAT IT COULD UNFAIRLY SCREEN OUT STUDENTS WITH DIFFERING POLITICAL VIEWS.

SAYING –

“While Stanford as a whole should expect students to conduct themselves in a civil, respectful manner, conditioning participation in academic programs or activities on social or political commitments treads dangerously close to compelled speech, if it does not actually cross that line.

Moreover, the term ‘diversity and inclusion,’ in today’s academic context, has acquired controversial political overtones which students may justifiably hesitate to endorse. A student could reasonably conclude that the teachers of this course intend to screen out students who disagree with them politically.”

THE GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURIAL MARKETING COURSE IS OFFERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING –

A COURSE THAT FOCUSES ON MARKETING TECHNOLOGY-BASED PRODUCTS GLOBALLY.

THE COURSE INSTRUCTORS, THE DEAN OF ENGINEERING, AND THE P-R DEPARTMENT AT STANFORD HAVE NOT RETURNED MEDIA REQUESTS FOR COMMENT OVER ITS DEI STATEMENT REQUIREMENT.

HOWEVER STANFORD’S “DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING” HAS A PAGE ONLINE DEDICATED TO ITS DEI EFFORTS  –

WHICH READS 

“Diversity is a fundamental value of the MS&E department. We value the academic, social, and broader community benefits that come from engaging with different viewpoints. We want our community to include and be supportive of perspectives from varying backgrounds.”

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