THE CENTER SQUARE—Requiring students to make a DEi statement to qualify for a course is “inappropriate” and could cross the line of compelled speech, according to a Brookings Institution expert.
Stanford University is requiring that those applying to enroll in “Global Entrepreneurial Marketing,” a course offered by the Department of Management Science and Engineering, make a statement on diversity and inclusion.
“Diversity is an important part of the mission of the Stanford MS&E Department and this class,” text describing the required diversity and inclusion statement reads. “Please use this opportunity to describe how you will contribute to a culture of diversity and inclusion in this class.”
Brookings’ Jonathan Rauch, a senior fellow in governance studies, questioned the requirement in a post on his X account.
“Here’s what some @Stanford engineering instructors are requiring of prospective students for course enrollment,” Rauch wrote.
Rauch acquired the screenshot of the requirement from “a member of the Stanford community,” he told The Center Square.
Rauch has authored eight books and writes for The Atlantic, according to his Brookings bio.
“It is inappropriate to require students to make a statement about their commitment to diversity and inclusion in order to qualify for a course,” Rauch told The Center Square.
“While Stanford as a whole should expect students to conduct themselves in a civil, respective 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,” Rauch said.
“Moreover (and unfortunately), the term ‘diversity and inclusion,’ in today’s academic context, has acquired controversial political overtones which students may justifiably hesitate to endorse,” Rauch said. “A student could reasonably conclude that the teachers of this course intend to screen out students who disagree with them politically.”
“Stanford should tell these teachers to cut it out,” Rauch said.
The requirement is in place despite the university recently announcing an institutional neutrality policy.
The course description mentions “skills needed to market new technology-based products to customers around the world. Case method discussions. Cases include startups and global high tech firms.”
The course themes are listed as “marketing toolkit, targeting markets and customers, product marketing and management, partners and distribution, sales and negotiation, and outbound marketing.”
The course description states that enrollment is limited and admission is by application.
The Center Square sought comment twice each from the listed course instructors, professors Lynda Smith and Thomas Kosnik. Neither responded.
The Center Square also sought comment twice each from Stanford’s engineering dean, Jennifer Widom, and director of public relations, Jill Wu. Neither responded.
Originally published by The Center Square
This article was originally published at www.dailysignal.com
