Iowa’s new anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion law hasn’t put a stop to Iowa State University’s agenda, as Accuracy in Media uncovered in a new hidden camera video.
Dr. Susan Harper, the director of the ISU LGBT center told an AIM investigator, “We are finding the loopholes in the laws.”
But she said she is hesitant to even say that, pointing to former university staffers in Texas who were fired for simply rebranding their DEI programs rather than making any substantive changes.
“We are finding ways to be in compliance with the law and still do the work that needs to be done,” Harper explained.
According to her, “we have had to sort of shift some of our programming, like the work goes on.”
She noted that these program shifts didn’t take place in Texas, leading to staff members being fired.
Gov. Kim Reynolds, R-Iowa, recently signed the anti-DEI law which barred public institutions from establishing and funding DEI offices.
It took effect on July 1, 2025. But for ISU, the name of the game is moving to covert DEI efforts, rather than removing them entirely.
“If they’re gonna light the hoops on fire, let’s take the game to them,” Harper told AIM’s investigator.
“I think there’s going to be some positions open in our—right now it’s the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs—that name won’t last. But there’s some, some work down there I think,” she shared.
Harper also described spreading DEI practices throughout university offices and programs. “What is really actually helpful is when there are employees who are like advisers in the engineering college or whatever that they are out there and it may not be your job description to be doing the work but you’re doing the work by supporting students,” she explained.
After a University of Iowa employee was caught on video admitting to defying the new law last month, Governor Reynolds responded in a statement. “I’m appalled by the remarks made in this video by a University of Iowa employee who blatantly admits to defying DEI restrictions I signed into law on May 9, 2024”.
“I already issued a letter to the Board of Regents on January 23, 2025, reminding university representatives to comply, not only with state law, but an executive order signed by President Trump ending implementation of DEI policies at public institutions. I will be referring this matter to Attorney General Brenna Bird for her review as it relates to Iowa’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Act,” Reynolds continued.
The Iowa Board of Regents is meeting Tuesday to consider policies on DEI and controversial subject matter, which had been left out of the July meeting. Board President Sherry Bates announced the special August 12 meeting in order to take up the item.
Go to DEIinIowa.com to send one message that goes directly to the state Board of Regents.
Tell them that radical administrators should not be plotting ways to circumvent the law in order to advance their divisive ideology.
This article originally appeared on Accuracy In Media. It is republished with permission.
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So what exactly is this, “still do the work that needs to be done” and why does it need to be done? No one is making them so it must be an ideology that they feel compelled to do.
Fire the Activist b*tch. We don’t need people getting around laws, discriminating against people and wasting our tax dollars.
Sounds that this “Doctor” is trying to hide DEI in other jobs not identifying ad DEI, but doing that work. Sounds like defiance which is a fireable offense. No its NOT a loophole. It is defiance of the law by fraud, and if those “New” jobs are getting even 1 dollar of federal funding it is jail time for defrauding the government.