‘Isn’t some slip of the tongue’: White calls out MSU spokesman for refuting DEI comments

Jackson, Mississippi

A feud over radical DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) programs between Mississippi State Auditor Shad White and Mississippi State University (MSU) spokesman Sid Salter has been ignited this week. White took to social media to denounce Salter’s claims that the auditor was disseminating misinformation about these DEI programs at state colleges and universities.

Auditor Shad White’s accusation

“I look at our universities and I see the ways they waste taxpayer resources on this liberal garbage and it’s frustrating,” White expressed disapprovingly in his social media post. He continued by expressing his desire for universities in Mississippi to renew their focus on education, saying, “I hope they’ll get back to educating the doctors, accountants, and engineers our economy needs.”

This comment comes on the heels of a report suggesting that MSU, together with the University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi, is looking to rebrand their DEI programs. This action responds to a report showing significant expenditures on these programs in recent years.

Commenting on his perception of these programs, White stated, “These crazy DEI programs push ideas like ‘whiteness’ is evil, and they waste money on big salaries and grants for nonsense like equity-based preschool yoga.”

MSU Spokesman’s refutation

Salter counteracted White’s assertions regarding the university’s DEI programs, stating, “What Shad White describes on the political stump is not what we’re doing at Mississippi State University. I don’t think it’s what we’re doing at other universities in Mississippi… He’s entitled to his opinion. He’s not entitled to his facts.”

Continued Accusations

However, White contends that Salter’s refutations are baseless. He pointed out that MSU has publicly commended its research on ‘whiteness’ and ‘white privilege,’ and that departments at the university have shown dedication to ‘antiracist’ ideology. He concluded, “This isn’t some slip of the tongue for him; it’s the second time this month he’s said something like this to statewide media.”

The auditor’s accusations and the spokesman’s responses have drawn public attention towards the issues surrounding Mississippi’s universities’ DEI programs. With unique perspectives on the mission, utility, and actual practice of such programs, an enriching debate on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the education sector has been set in motion.

The rift between the two entities demonstrates the wide range of opinions and interpretations that exist within this issue. It also exemplifies the challenges inherent in finding a common ground amidst such varied understanding and expectations of DEI programs within Mississippi’s higher education institutions. As students, educators, and state officials alike weigh in on the debate, all eyes will remain on what changes, if any, might result with regards to the future of DEI programs within the state.