Before becoming the NFL's all-time leading rusher, legendary Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith put himself on the map with an outstanding three-year college career with the Florida Gators.
Unfortunately, Smith is not as proud of his alma mater as he'd like to be. On Sunday afternoon, Smith released a statement on social media decrying the University of Florida's decision to eliminate its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) program.
“I’m utterly disgusted by UF’s decision and the precedent that it sets,” Smith wrote. “We cannot continue to believe and trust that a team of leaders all made up of the same background will make the right decision when it comes to equality and diversity. History has already proven that is not the case. We need diverse thinking and backgrounds to enhance our University and the DEI department is necessary to accomplish those goals.”
The university sent out a memo Friday announcing that it is eliminating all positions within the DEI department, including chief diversity officer. In the same memo, university officials stated that UF will still be "unwavering in our commitment to universal human dignity."
According to The Gainesville Sun, the decision was made to comply with Florida Board of Governor's regulation 9.016, which states that state universities "may not expend any state or federal funds to promote, support, or maintain any programs or campus activities" that engage in political or social activism. It also prevents schools from advocating for DEI, which the board defines as "any program, campus activity, or policy that classifies individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation and promotes differential or preferential treatment of individuals on the basis of such classification."
The law was pushed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and passed last year.
"DEI is toxic and has no place in our public universities," DeSantis wrote on X. "I’m glad that Florida was the first state to eliminate DEI and I hope more states follow suit."
Smith, who won three Super Bowls with the Cowboys in the 1990s, ended his statement with a warning to Gators athletes and a call to action.
“To the MANY minority athletes at UF, please be aware and vocal about the decision by the University who is now closing the doors on other minorities without any oversight,” Smith wrote. “And to those who think it’s not your problem and stay on the side lines and say nothing, you are complicit in supporting systemic issues.”
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