The University of Iowa Caves

The University of Iowa is adopting the MAGA agenda in higher education - getting rid of any initiative that smacks of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). They have announced that it is closing its Gender, Women's and Sexuality Studies Department. The university is also eliminating its Department of American Studies and its major in Social Justice. In its place the university is proposing a School of Social and Cultural Analysis, an entity that the Board of Regents will decide upon in February 2025.

This move occurs in the wake of the state passing SF 2435, a law that limits state universities in funding DEI offices. It is not clear that the legislation applies to departments and majors. But, it does show to the MAGA types in Iowa that the university is doing something about DEI and "wokeness."

The university says it plans to house Latina/o/x Studies as well as Native American and Indigenous Studies in the new school. The administration claims the re-shuffling of departments into the new school will make a better use of financial and curricula resources. Perhaps it will. But right now it looks like the university has caved to the more vocal conservative voices in the state. That's not exactly a positive sign for academic freedom in higher education.