Nebraska governor backs university's anti-CRT resolution amid backlash

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Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts is throwing his support behind a resolution aimed at combatting critical race theory (CRT) at the state's university system. 

"I strongly urge the Board of Regents to pass the resolution opposing the imposition of Critical Race Theory on students, so we keep academic freedom alive and well at the University of Nebraska," Ricketts, a Republican, tweeted on Monday.

He also took aim at two organizations – the United College Athlete Advocates and the American Association of University Professors – that criticized the resolution. 

"[T]he University of Nebraska should consider it an honor to be listed on the AAUP’s censure list alongside notable conservative institutions, including Brigham Young University, Catholic University of America, and Hillsdale College," tweeted Ricketts.

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His comments came amid a wave of pushback against the measure, which was proposed by University of Nebraska (NU) regent and Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Pillen.

It reads in part: "Whereas we oppose discrimination in any form and whereas critical race theory does not promote inclusive and honest dialogue and education on campus and whereas critical race theory proponents seek to silence opposing views and disparage important American ideals, be it resolved that the regents of the University of Nebraska oppose any imposition of critical race theory in curriculum."

Since Pillen introduced the measure, it received support from Ricketts but plenty of criticism from faculty and others. Pillen, who submitted the resolution earlier this month, had hoped the board would approve the resolution in August but it's currently unclear if that will happen. 

After the UCAA, AAUP, and faculty senate criticized the measure, the university's president and chancellors released a statement expressing "concerns."

"As we have shared with Regent Pillen, we have significant concerns about the resolution and how it would be interpreted by the faculty, staff and students we hope to recruit and retain," it read.

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"We will continue to work together and with the Board to vigorously protect and defend academic freedom at the University of Nebraska."

The controversy at NU reflected a broader debate about purported academic freedom and the appropriateness of teaching ideas surrounding CRT.

"As our policies and practices make clear, the University of Nebraska is strongly committed to academic freedom," reads the statement from President Ted Carter and four chancellors. 

"We support and defend the liberties our teachers and learners have to freely discuss ideas in and outside of the classroom … Issues around race, equity and the fight against racism are an important part of our country’s story and they have an appropriate place in our classrooms."

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AAUP similarly expressed concerns about academic freedom while a UCAA petition quickly gathered more than 1,000 signatures.

Pillen has maintained, however, that the resolution would help ensure a fair and balanced dialogue. "The imposition of Critical Race Theory on our students runs counter to those ideals by attempting to indoctrinate students and silencing their dissenting opinions," he said. "This resolution affirms a fair and balanced dialogue on all issues."

William Jacobson, a Cornell Law School professor and founder of criticalrace.org, which tracks CRT training in higher education, previously told Fox News that Pillen's resolution gave an honest account of CRT's downsides.

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"Numerous universities and colleges have issued public statements supporting, and in some cases mandating, a critical race theory approach to the curriculum, usually using code words such as 'antiracism' or ‘equity,’" he told Fox News via email.

"The proposed U. Nebraska Regents Resolution stands apart in that it gives an honest account of the downside of CRT in practice, which too often results in a narrowing of campus viewpoints. The resolution does not ‘ban’ CRT from the curriculum, to the contrary, it opposes ‘imposition’ of CRT, and in so doing seeks to foster an open campus intellectual environment."