D.E.I. at the University of Cincinnati

Recently our Board Member Tom Hagedorn met with the Audit Committee for University of Cincinnati to discuss Ohio Senate Bill 1 and the University’s compliance with it. Below is Tom’s testimony to the committee.

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Hello, I’m Tom Hagedorn and I’m appearing today because I’m concerned about UCs compliance with Ohio Senate Bill 1, the US DOEs “Dear Colleague” letter and President Trump’s related executive order, which seem to have many overlapping goals.

First, I should tell you about myself. I earned a B.S. from the MCMICKEN college of Arts and Sciences in Physical Geography in 1970. I was awarded an MBA with a concentration in accounting from the College of Business. I then enjoyed a long career in auditing, accounting, and investing. Near the start of my career I served for 5 years as the Director of Internal Audit at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati and acquired experience in external and internal auditing.

In the 59 years since I first walked on campus UC has been doing some amazing things. But for at least the last 35 years some of its staff and policies have put their thumb on the scale of various progressive social, cultural and political causes…in my view, improperly promoting ideologies that were never a part of their charter. From time to time, I would send a letter regarding a particular issue to a board member but not once did I got a response.

So frankly, I was thrilled, surprised, but also concerned as I saw SB1 and the Trump initiatives unfold. Thrilled and surprised because I never thought this would happen so quickly. Concerned because it appears to force an abrupt 180 degree turn for most universities, including UC. I read a disturbing article in the WSJ that suggested that there were private discussions among universities on how to feign compliance while continuing business as usual. I am determined to do what I can to see that this does not happen at UC. I trust that the Board and the administration are on my side when it comes to full compliance.

I have read summaries of SB1 and parts of the UC website that relate to it. While there are many other important provisions of SB1and the federal initiatives, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) provisions are my present concern. My perception is that you likely have some Deans, Department Heads, and Faculty who are very unhappy with those provisions. It would not surprise me if there were not a lot of resistance to these “tectonic” changes. It looks like it will take a herculean effort to overcome that. I plan to express my concerns about implementation to the full Board on October 28. My concern here is that your internal auditor (or others) need to do a great deal of work to assure compliance.

I am convinced that if we looked back to last year at this time, UC would have been in noncompliance with this SB1in many, many ways. I point to the reports of just two independent organizations concerning UC. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (TheFIRE.org) – their purpose is obvious from their name – gives UC an overall grade of D- . Do No Harm works to keep identity politics out of medical education, research, and clinical practice. A search of their website yielded several negative mentions of the UC College of Medicine relative to DEI. The most recent was an oath required to be recited at their Honors Day celebration just this May.

Further, is the University following the spirit of the 2023 Supreme Court decision dealing with racial discrimination in college admissions? SB1 seems to be going directly at that. Also, like most universities it is very unlikely that UC has an intellectually diverse faculty. Many studies have been done of the political affiliation of faculties across the nation. Studies always show an embarrassingly low number of Republicans, especially in education, humanities and the social sciences. Since party ID is strongly associated with hot button political, cultural, and social issues, a low number of Republicans on one’s faculty points to the likelihood of a lack of viewpoint diversity.

After I have spoken at the next Board meeting, I plan to reach out to the ODHE, the State Auditor’s office, Ohio Senator Gerry Cirino and the Trump administration to see what they expect to see in terms of compliance from universities like UC and how that will be enforced.

I will be glad to talk to anyone – Anyone – at any time about this. Thanks’ for this opportunity. I wish you Godspeed in your mission.