SIU’s Constitution Day includes panel discussion on federal vs. state education issues
Date/Time
Date(s) - 09/17/2025
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Location
Guyon Auditorium/Morris Library
Categories
A discussion on the effect that recent federal mandates involving education and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives have on state-level efforts highlight Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s observation of Constitution Day on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
“Education and DEI Initiatives: State vs. Federal,” is from noon to 1 p.m. in Morris Library’s John C. Guyon Auditorium. The panel discussion is free and open to the public.
The panelists are:
- Benjamin Bricker, associate dean for student and curricular affairs in the College of Liberal Arts and associate professor of political science.
- Cindy Buys, professor of law, SIU Simmons Law School.
- Tobin Grant, professor of political science.
- Sheila Simon, associate professor of law, SIU Simmons Law School, who will serve as moderator.
The discussion points will include the U.S. Department of Justice assertions that the use of federal funding for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives violates the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause — connecting it to a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court case involving admissions at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. Buys noted that Illinois is involved in several multistate lawsuits relating to education, including opposing the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education and those relating to federal funds provided to the state for education.