The president of the University of Idaho told the state legislature's budget committee claims of student indoctrination that caused a $500,000 budget cut to the school are false.
University President C. Scott Green told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee the school commissioned Hawley Troxell law firm to do an independent investigation into the indoctrination allegations brought on by a report written by the Idaho Freedom Foundation, the Idaho Press reported.
In a statement sent to Newsweek, Green said the investigation proved the allegations were false.
"What we already knew proved to be the truth – the University of Idaho does not engage in forcing any ideologies on its students but instead teaches critical thinking skills that our industries need in their next leaders," he said.
At the budget committee meeting, Green said while he was sure there was no indoctrination happening at the school, "conflict entrepreneurs and those who earn their living by scaring people with such illusions have made these claims, which surfaced and were used to cut our budget last year," according to the Idaho Press.
Quoting the law firm's conclusion verbatim, he said it was "unable to substantiate the conclusions contained within the IFF report, including the allegations pertaining to the University of Idaho having a systemic commitment to forcing social justice ideology upon its students."
Last year, the state cut $2.5 million in funds to UI, Boise State University and Idaho State University to "remove state support for social justice programming," KTVB reported.
According to the Associated Press, UI and ISU each lost $500,000 and BSU lost $1.5 million. Green said UI's cut was based on a "false narrative."
"Critical race theory," or the idea of race being "embedded in legal systems and policies," as defined by EdWeek, has become a hot-button issue for Republicans, who have essentially widened the definition to cover most things related to diversity and teaching about racism.
The AP reported Idaho passed legislation last year aimed at keeping teachers from "indoctrinating" students with critical race theory.
During the committee meeting, Republican Rep. Ron Nate questioned Green on why the university spent $140,000 to hire a director of engineering diversity for the school's College of Engineering, according to the Idaho Press.
Green responded that Hawley Troxell's report noted Boise-based Micron Technology, one of the state's top employers, established an endowment for diversity and inclusive initiatives.
"Micron appears to be of the opinion that these initiatives and skills are essential to its workers, many of whom it recruits from the University of Idaho's College of Engineering," he said, adding "We found no evidence that the College of Engineering reserves research opportunities or other resources for minorities or women, and no evidence that non-minority students are excluded in any capacity."
The committee will set a new budget for universities later in the legislative session, the AP reported.
The IFF declined to comment to Newsweek, instead referring to its media policy calling most media outlets "agenda-driven propagandists" trying to promote "socialist ideas."
