WATCH: Hidden camera catches red-state university admins admitting how they ‘cleverly’ disguised DEI agenda
In a revealing undercover video, administrators at North Carolina A&T State University have been caught discussing their strategies to continue diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, despite recent legislative efforts aimed at curtailing such programs. Filmed in August and September 2024, the footage surfaced following a decision by the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors to effectively ban DEI practices and promote “institutional neutrality.” In the video, Pascha Miller, the assistant director of the Office of Intercultural Engagement, expressed relief that their office operates independently from the DEI office, allowing them to persist with their initiatives by simply “switching up” the language used in their programs.
The conversation reveals a deliberate effort to adapt to new regulations while maintaining their DEI objectives. Michael Eccles, the office manager for the same department, mentioned that they have replaced the term “diversity” with “competency” to comply with the new guidelines. Austin Horne, assistant director of LGBTA programs and services, elaborated on the vague nature of the legislation, stating that it imposes eleven rules governing their language, but leaves room for interpretation. This ambiguity has led some universities, like UNC Charlotte, to eliminate DEI roles altogether, while others, including A&T State, have opted to creatively navigate the restrictions. Horne candidly acknowledged that their approach might be seen as “creative naming” to avoid potential litigation, while also confirming that their adaptations are largely in response to political pressures.
The implications of these revelations extend beyond North Carolina A&T State University, reflecting a broader trend among universities nationwide. As reported by Fox News Digital, many institutions appear to be rebranding their DEI initiatives to evade scrutiny from state and federal authorities, particularly under the Trump administration’s crackdown on such programs. The situation has prompted calls for reform, with critics like Adam Guillette of Accuracy in Media arguing for stringent measures against those who attempt to circumvent the law. He advocates for a Kansas-style DEI ban that includes accountability for violations. This ongoing debate highlights the tension between institutional commitments to diversity and the political landscape shaping higher education policies, raising questions about the future of DEI efforts in academic settings.
FIRST ON FOX:
Undercover video shows administrators at a North Carolina university detailing how they are continuing their
diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
efforts despite state and federal efforts to roll back the policies.
”
It shook things up around here, but fortunately for us, this office is not actually under the DEI office at all, so we’re able to just keep going. We just like switched up our, you know, changed the wording of things,” Pascha Miller, Office of Intercultural Engagement assistant director at
North Carolina
A&T State University, says in a video obtained by Accuracy in Media.
The videos, taken in August and September 2024, came months after the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors voted to essentially ban DEI and focus on “institutional neutrality,”
Carolina Journal reported.
Michael Eccles, the university’s office manager for the Office of Intercultural Engagement, said in the video, “The word ‘diversity,’ we had to change saying ‘diversity’ to competency.”
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“Yes,” Eccles said when asked if he would describe that process as “creative naming,” using the word “cleverly” to describe the method.
Austin Horne, assistant director of LGBTA programs and services at the Office of Intercultural Engagement, is also seen in the video going a step further.
“The Board of Governors did a statute in May that is really like, attacking DEI jobs and restricting some of our language,” Horne said. “It is very intentionally vague is what, you know, the way I read it. But it’s really leaving it up to you know each university to kind of think about it in their own way and consider how much they want to open themselves up to litigation. But, luckily I think there’s only been one position that wasn’t lost, it was just changed here.”
The undercover journalist then pressed Horne.
“Just to make sure I understand, so for at least A&T, you’ve not had to like, you’ve just changed or maybe got creative, with some of the language?” the journalist asked.
“Yes,” Horne responded.
“To get around the legislation?” the journalist asked.
“Well, it’s not even to get around the legislation, so what the legislation is, is it’s giving us, I want to say it’s 11 rules for what we can and cannot say when we are speaking on behalf of the university, and so some universities like Charlotte have taken that and said these positions can’t function with these rules in place so we’re just going to get rid of them. Every other public university has said they can function, we’re just going to try and shield ourselves from litigation.”
The journalist responded, “Just to appease the politicians?”
WATCHDOG: HOW UNIVERSITIES ARE REBRANDING DEI TO SKIRT TRUMP’S CRACKDOWN
“Yes, it’s very much, it’s so vague,” Horne said.
In another clip, Eccles says, “It’s been a little bit of a challenge, but we’re still pushing through and trying to make sure people get what they need.”
Miller says in another clip toward the end of the video, “We don’t use DEI anymore, it’s kind of hard not to use the word ‘diversity,’” then laughs along with the journalist and says, “We try not to, you know, just to be safe.”
Fox News Digital has reported extensively on universities this year who appear to be simply rebranding their DEI efforts in order to avoid scrutiny from the Trump administration or state governments.
Earlier this year, UNC Asheville severed ties with its dean of students after
Fox News Digital reported
on a video showing her boasting about DEI efforts still taking place but you “gotta keep it quiet.”
Fox News Digital reached out to North Carolina A&T State University for comment.
“North Carolina’s universities have been captured by lawbreaking radicals, and they require fundamental reform,” Adam Guillette, president of Accuracy in Media, told Fox News Digital.
“Any government employee who is caught circumventing laws should never again be allowed to earn a paycheck from taxpayers. And the legislature needs to enact a Kansas-style DEI ban which includes both a reporting mechanism and actual consequences for those who flout the law.”
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
