Montgomery, Alabama — Students and professors at public universities across Alabama are asking a federal appeals court to block a state law that bans diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, arguing the measure restricts academic freedom and has already led to campus closures and curriculum changes.
The law, which took effect in October 2024, prohibits public schools and universities from using state funds for programs or activities that endorse what Republican lawmakers labeled “divisive concepts” related to race, religion, sex, or gender identity. Classroom discussion of those topics is still permitted, but only if presented in an “objective manner without endorsement.”
Plaintiffs say the distinction is vague and has created a chilling effect across Alabama’s public universities. Faculty members report altering syllabi, removing long-taught material, and avoiding sensitive topics out of concern that students could file complaints. Student groups say the law has contributed to the closure of affinity organizations and Black student publications, as well as placing professors on leave.
U.S. District Judge David Proctor previously allowed the law to stand, ruling that academic freedom does not override a public university’s authority to control classroom content. In his decision, Proctor wrote that the statute does not eliminate discussion of race or gender but limits institutional endorsement of those ideas.
On appeal, plaintiffs argue the law effectively turns universities into extensions of state ideology. Legal advocates warn that poorly defined enforcement standards could invite frivolous investigations and discourage professors from presenting peer-reviewed research. Dana Patton, a political science instructor at the University of Alabama, said it has become “safer” to avoid certain subjects altogether.
The appeal follows a July Department of Justice mandate encouraging similar restrictions nationwide, signaling that Alabama’s case could influence higher-education policy well beyond the state.
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