OPINION | This article contains political commentary which reflects the author's opinion.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re well aware by now that higher education institutions are under pressure to triple down on their “diversity and inclusion” efforts. Entire Diversity Departments exist, and their sole purpose is to ostensibly be inclusive of everyone’s uniqueness, but in reality they’re more about demanding that white people “recognize their privilege” and other BS nonsense like that.

I feel true sympathy for the conservative professors who are expected to get on board the diversity trains. I mean, granted, there are like 7 of them, but still.

UCLA law prof Stephen Bainbridge was recently required by the university to submit a statement explaining how he specifically contributes to UCLA’s goals in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This is required in order to be eligible for a merit raise. For real. And you can read his brilliant response right here.

I’ve included a few of my favorite bits:

“…I have long been particularly concerned with the lack of intellectual diversity at the law school. A survey of U.S. law professors in general found that white Democratic professors (both male and female), Jewish professors, and nonreligious professors ‘account for most (or all) of the overrepresentation among racial, gender, religious, and ideological groups in law teaching.’ The groups that ‘account for most of the underrepresentation among racial, gender, religious, and ideological groups in law teaching’ are Republicans (both male and female), Protestants, and Catholics. This disparity persists even though ‘religious and political diversity are probably more important for viewpoint diversity than gender diversity and roughly as important as racial diversity.’

OH SNAP. I can’t imagine that’s gonna go over well. Diversity departments really aren’t interested in anything other than diversity of skin color and sexuality and gender identity. Political and religious diversity of thought? WHO CARES AMIRITE?

Bainbridge went on to cite all kinds of stats – such as the ratio of liberal to conservative faculty at various universities, and political contributions made by UCLA Law Department employees.

And then he concluded with this gem:

“Because conservative students and students of faith often feel alienated and estranged in an environment that is so relentlessly liberal and secular, I have made particular efforts to reach out to and support such students. I have served as a mentor for leaders of The Federalist Society and Christian Law Students Association. I have given talks to both organizations. I taught a Perspectives on law and Lawyering seminar devoted to Catholic Social Thought and the Law, which gave students—whether Catholic or not—an opportunity to consider how their faith (or lack thereof) related to the law and an opportunity to learn about a coherent body of Christian scholarship that might inform their lives as lawyers. I have also tried to lead by example, such as by serving as a volunteer with the Good Shepherd Catholic Church’s St. Vincent de Paul chapter, which raises funds for distribution to poor persons who are in danger of losing their home due to inability to make rent or mortgage payments.”

I’d say those are some genuinely awesome contributions, but I have a feeling it’s not what UCLA is looking for.

I wouldn’t hold your breath for that raise, Mr. Bainbridge. But Godspeed and thank you for your efforts!

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