COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — A bill making its way through the Statehouse aims to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across South Carolina. However, many believe it would have damaging effects across the board. Bill H.3927, also called the “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit Based Opportunity Act” is currently being considered by the SC House of Representatives. In its current form, heavy restrictions would be placed on DEI practices across state agencies as well as schools of higher learning. “South Carolina colleges and universities compete nationally for students and faculty, but if we eliminate diversity equity and inclusion programs, we make our institutions less attractive and risk falling behind academically and economically,” says Rep. Hamilton Grant. Multiple institutions seem to agree. University of South Carolina, Clemson University, and others have reported that the bill in its current form could cause substantial financial loss by discouraging future attendance and straining relationships with potential business partners. Lauren Donahue is a senior at USC, and says a class called “Racial and Ethnic Politics” encouraged students of different viewpoints to interact and learn from each other. “I took this class alongside conservative students. That means conservative students chose to take the class. They chose to take this class because they too find value in diversity. H.3927 will not limit those of us who look differently than you, think differently than you, it will also suppress Republican voters, Republican educations, and future Republican leaders,” says Donahue. However, those in favor of the bill say it would prevent so-called “special benefits” being provided to individuals on the basis of race, gender, or sexual orientation. “Diversity, equity, and inclusion are great words but when you put them all together, it becomes a failed program — and we’ve seen that across the nation. So South Carolina is going to lead the forefront on making sure that this is a merit based system where you are promoted or hired on your ability to do the job,” says Rep. Chris Wooten. “If you look up the very definition of merit it will tell you what it is. And I would dare say that synonyms of merit are diversity, equity and inclusion. And so what you have and what you’ll hear today is you’ll have individuals try to tell you what merit is, but my question is who is the standard bearer of merit, and why do they keep moving the goalpost?” ask Grant. Categories: Local News, News Tags: DEI, Diversity, Equity, inclusion, Lauren Donahue, Rep. Chris Wooten, Rep. Hamilton Grant ...read more read less