Four faculty members and a Ph.D. student in the Department of Political Science — Tatishe Nteta, Douglas Rice, Jesse Rhodes, Justin Gross and Adam Eichen write that efforts to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in more than two dozen states are rooted in racism. Citing their research conducted through the UMass Poll, they say, “The troubling connection between racism and opposition to DEI programs highlights that there is still work to be done until the nation’s citizens are truly judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.” (The Conversation, 4/8/24; syndicated to Beaumont Enterprise [Texas], (Oregon Public Broadcasting, 4/15/24)