You're not going to believe what the U of A just pulled
Good morning from the coulees — the wind's up, the sky's wide, and Lethbridge has something to say.
Look, you hear a lot about universities making decisions that get folks talking, especially lately. But the University of Alberta up in Edmonton just decided to scrap their equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) hiring policies. They approved a new policy that just straight-up removes EDI as a consideration for hiring. It happened despite a good deal of pushback from folks who think these things matter.
### What This Means for Us Down Here
Now, this isn't the University of Lethbridge, mind you. Our Pronghorns are still out there, doing their thing, and I expect their hiring practices are their own business. But when a big institution like the U of A makes a move like this, it sends ripples.
* **For students:** Especially those from diverse backgrounds who might be looking at their options for higher education in Alberta, it makes you wonder what kind of welcome you'd find. The U of L has always prided itself on being a bit of a hub, drawing students from all over to our campus overlooking the Oldman River. * **For faculty:** It raises questions about what kind of academic environment they're cultivating up north. We've got good people, good minds, making their lives and careers here, and I reckon they're watching this with a keen eye. * **For the province:** It's another sign of some shifting winds, culturally speaking. This whole discussion is one of those things that really gets folks talking over coffee at Penny Coffee Co. downtown, or out on a walk through the Nikka Yuko. It’s about what kind of Alberta we’re building.
Look, the wind might be up today, but a chinook arch is still a promise. This decision up north, it’s going to make a lot of people think about what kind of values we want our institutions to uphold, especially when we’re all looking to bring the best and brightest to our wide-open spaces.
Jolene Blackwater, MiTL Sports Desk.
The Morning Wire crew digs into stories like this every day — catch them live over at mornings.live.