University will also end mandatory DEI statements for hiring, promotion
The University of Wyoming’s vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion has announced he is leaving the institution for a new job as UW prepares to shutter its DEI office next month.
Zebediah Hall, who was tapped for the top DEI position at UW in November 2022, has accepted a new position in a similar role at Salisbury University in Maryland.
It’s the latest development at the Cowboy State’s flagship public university, which is being forced to eliminate its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion office due to legislative pressure, where Republicans hold a supermajority in the statehouse.
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The university also announced in May it will no longer require job candidates to submit DEI statements nor evaluate employees’ commitment to DEI in annual performance reviews.
Campus media affairs representatives did not respond to repeated emails and a phone call in recent weeks seeking comment from The College Fix. Hall also did not respond to a request for comment.
University President Ed Seidel and the UW Board of Trustees made the changes “in response to legislative action that removed $1.73 million from UW’s upcoming biennium budget. A legislative budget footnote also directed that no state dollars be spent on the DEI office, effective July 1, 2024,” a news release stated.
“We received a strong message from the state’s elected officials to change our approach to DEI issues,” Seidel stated.
Seidel added support programs run out of the DEI office that handled other efforts, such as mandatory state and federal nondiscrimination trainings, and ones supporting veterans, nontraditional students, and students with disabilities, will be transferred to other offices and remain intact.
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As for the closure of UW’s DEI office, some argue such moves may not go far enough.
In his piece “Closing DEI Offices is Not Enough,” political scientist Samuel Abrams argued DEI is so embedded in other aspects of campus life, from student support services to libraries to residential life programs, that the dogma will continue to be heavily propagated on campuses.
“Sarah Lawrence College, where I teach, provides a straightforward case,” he wrote in his April piece. “Only a handful of administrative staff are technically in the ‘diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging’ (DEIB) office, for instance.”
“But that has not stopped the overt and inappropriate activism of many other staff members employed by SLC to theoretically help elevate all students.”
At the University of Wyoming, programs that may be considered preferential to one group of individuals but are “deemed essential to help students,” such as Women in STEM activities or the Wyoming Latina Youth Conference, will be funded by “private” sources and continue on, the news release stated.
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However, the University of Wyoming this summer will not host the annual Black 14 Social Justice Summer Institute. This program is for high school juniors and seniors with a “passion for social justice,” with learning outcomes such as exploring possibilities to social problems and promoting a sense of community “amongst a diverse group of students.”
“The University of Wyoming will not hold a Black 14 Social Justice Summer Institute this year, as members of the Black 14 have chosen not to participate in a third annual institute,” the university wrote in a May news release.
“In a letter to President Ed Seidel, three Black 14 members wrote that the group is discontinuing its involvement in the institute because Wyoming government leaders have eliminated funding for UW’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.”
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Wyoming International Film Festival will be featuring filmmaker Shoval Tshuva’s debut film Funky on Sunday, July 14th at 4 pm at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne. Set in New York City, Funky weaves humor and resiliency into a poignant, brave look at the ongoing impact of sexual assault and one women’s journey to reclaim her life and her libido.
“In my opinion,” says SHOVAL TSHUVA, WRITER and DIRECTOR, “only a woman can tell a story about a female experience and carry it truthfully.”
The film is part of the Drama #2 lineup on Sunday which will be followed by the festival’s Awards Ceremony at 7 pm. Tickets can be purchased here.
Cowboy hats, boots and even spurs peppered the crowd of ranchers, lawmakers and wildlife advocates at Miller Land and Livestock. The sixth generation ranch, nestled between Big Piney and the Wyoming Range, hosted a recent conservation event.
“We’re all about horses and cattle, but we really like our birds too,” said Mike Miller, who runs the ranch with his wife, Tara Miller, and the help of their sons, Will and Wes, and grandsons, Kaleb and Blu.
The Miller Ranch’s conservation efforts caught the eye of the National Audubon Society – specifically, their work to preserve bird habitat.
“Every year we have a [bird] family around our house. Last year was ferruginous hawk,” Mike said as birds chirped in the background. “This year, it’s an owl family. They’re really fun to watch. They’re pretty stoic individuals.”
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The Audubon’s event was pegged as a “Sagebrush Celebration”, with a nod to the Miller’s recent ‘bird-friendly habitat certification from the Society. It’s a coveted title given to ranches who have prioritized conservation. The Millers said they couldn’t have gotten to this place without state and federal assistance.
Caitlin Tan
/
Wyoming Public Media
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The Miller family receives the Audubon certified award from Alison Holloran (green dress). From left to right, Kaleb, Tara, Mike and Wes Miller.
“They all have been a godsend to ranchers,” said Tara to the crowd of about 70. “The help and knowledge we have gained from them is invaluable.”
This is noticeably a different tone from Wyoming’s growing number of lawsuits against federal agencies over conservation efforts and management of natural resources. Wyoming often argues that local knowledge isn’t being prioritized in these efforts.
But not at the Miller Ranch. In attendance was Gov. Mark Gordon, and he said this is an example of the system working.
“Wildlife migrates across federal, state and private lands, each with management objectives,” Gordon said to the crowd of ranchers, wildlife advocates and lawmakers. “It’s only when people come together, with leadership from folks like Mike and Tara, that we can actually get that solved on the ground in a way that makes sense to wildlife, because wildlife don’t understand red lines.”
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Jaden Bales
/
Wyoming Wildlife Federation
From left to right, Gov. Mark Gordon, Mike Miller and Kaleb Miller come back from a drive around the ranch in Kaleb’s truck.
The Millers are the 11th ranch in Wyoming to receive the Audubon recognition. The society highlighted the Miller’s strategic rotational grazing of their cattle.
“Short, intense grazing periods create patches of short vegetation suitable for species like the Burrowing Owl and Ferruginous Hawk,” according to an Audubon press release. “Extended periods of rest from grazing allow for taller habitat structures, benefiting species like the Lark Bunting, Loggerhead Shrike and Sagebrush Sparrow.”
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Speaker of the Wyoming House Albert Sommers (R-Pinedale) also acknowledged the Millers’ efforts, saying collaboration is key for conservation.
“If we can’t find ways to work together, to preserve these working landscapes, we’re going to be in a far worse place than we are today,” Sommers said.
Right now, Wyoming is in talks with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) over a newly proposed sage grouse management plan. The goal is to prevent an Endangered Species listing. Science shows conservation of sagebrush and limited disturbance can slow the population’s decline.
A final version of the plan is expected in the coming months. Then, the work will start. That means collaboration between federal, state and local landowners, like the Millers.
Tara acknowledged all the hard work it takes to do so. It’s been a learning process since she married into the family 50 years ago.
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Mike Miller on his ranch.
“I was glad to be a cowgirl marrying a good looking, fun loving bronc rider and had little idea of the lifetime commitment I was making to a big ranch,” she said.
But Tara said she wouldn’t have it anyother way. The Millers have built a reputation for not only their ranching and conservation, but also their horse breeding program.
They won Best Remuda from the American Quarter Horse Association in 2021, which awards ranches across the country with top of the line home-raised ranch horses.
Just this year, Mike Miller was inducted into the National Reined Cow Horse Association Hall of Fame. He earned more than $623,000 and made it to multiple cow horse final showing events since the late 1980s – all achieved on horses bred and raised on their wildlife-friendly ranch.
Free nutritious foods and education, breastfeeding support and healthcare referrals are offered to thousands of families across the state by the Wyoming WIC Program, operated by the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH).
The Wyoming WIC Program features free, easy-to-use benefit cards participants can take to local stores to get nutritious foods at no cost. Some WIC families also are eligible for infant formula benefits. WIC is aimed at helping women who are pregnant or new moms, infants and children up to age 5.
Tina Fearneyhough, WIC program manager with WDH, said “We know WIC services can significantly improve participant health while also helping people feed their families during a key period of child development.”
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Fearneyhough described ongoing efforts to modernize and help make the program even more readily available for participating families. “We now offer virtual appointments to our WIC participants if needed or requested and have developed consistent digital resources our staff can use to help WIC families,” she said. “Later this year we will offer new cards with enhanced, user-friendly technology and we think participants will like the upgrade.”
Wyoming WIC serves families with incomes up to 185 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines. Qualifying income guidelines for WIC have been updated effective July 1:
1 person family -$27,861/year or $2,322/month
2 person family -$37,814/year or $3,152/month
3 person family -$47,767/year or $3,981/month
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4 person family -$57,720/year or $4,810/month
5 person family -$67,673/year or $5,640/month
Families already using SNAP, TANF or Wyoming Medicaid benefits also qualify for WIC.
“Our income guidelines are adjusted each year. Our new guidelines may help a few more families to be eligible for WIC benefits,” Fearneyhough said.
Wyoming residents can apply for WIC benefits at https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/wic/apply-for-wic/. WIC is not just for moms; all caregivers of young children are welcome to apply, including dads, foster parents, guardians, grandparents and step-parents.
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WIC is officially known as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children Program, and is a joint federal and state government effort under the USDA.
WIC clinics are located throughout the state and can be found by using the “Clinic Locator” online at https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/wic/wic-clinic-locator/ or by calling 1-888-996-9378.
