The University of Florida has temporarily closed its Center for Inclusion and Multicultural Engagement (CIME) due to a controversial new law, Senate Bill 266. As a result, CIME’s programs, resources, and cultural student engagement offices have shuttered.
CIME’s future has been uncertain since March when the university, to comply with the law, cut all state-funded diversity programs. An audit revealed that state funding made up 85% of CIME’s operating budget in the 2022-2023 year. Currently, CIME is closed for refurbishment: its website and social media accounts are inactive, and a sign on the door indicates it will be closed until August 5.
As of this spring, the center was not initially subject to the university’s sweeping DEI program cuts, but its future has been unclear since. It houses the Office of Hispanic Latinx Student Engagement, the Office of Black Student Engagement, the Office of Asian Pacific Islander Desi Student Engagement, and the Office of LGBTQ+ Student Engagement. The Alligator, the university’s student-led newspaper, reports that UF spokesperson Steve Orlando says the center is changing to comply with the law, with more information coming soon.
In an interview with the Alligator, Matthew Urra – the Hispanic Student Association president,- said the lack of communication caused concern among students that CIME won’t be returning.
“The current concern is whether or not the individual spaces within the office will still exist,” said the 21-year-old UF political science senior. “The follow-up to that is whether or not any of the programs and resources previously available through those offices will be maintained through the rebrand or transformation or if that’s something that’s also going to be axed.”
CIME’s closure and rebranding might be the newest impact of state Republicans’ efforts against DEI initiatives. Earlier this year, Inside Higher Ed reported colleges such as the Universities of Texas at Austin and Dallas were compelled to close similar multicultural centers and lay off numerous employees despite initial moves to rename them.
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