Iowa Attorney General Investigates University of Iowa DEI Defiance Video

The Iowa Attorney General's Office has launched an investigation into the University of Iowa following an undercover video showing an employee admitting to circumventing state laws banning Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. The video, obtained by Fox News, features Drea Tinoco, assistant director for Leadership and Student Organization Development, explaining how the university uses terms like "civic engagement" to continue DEI work despite the 2024 state law and directives from the Iowa Board of Regents prohibiting such initiatives. Governor Kim Reynolds, who signed the anti-DEI law, filed a formal complaint and condemned the employee's remarks as blatant defiance. University and state officials, including Regent President Sherry Bates and UI President Dr. Barbara Wilson, have condemned the behavior, emphasizing that compliance with state law is mandatory and promising corrective actions if violations are found. The Board of Regents expressed full support for the investigation and plans to hold a special meeting to revisit DEI policies. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions over DEI efforts in public universities in Iowa and the legal scrutiny arising from attempts to navigate or resist the restrictions.