Two Nebraska Lawmakers Call For Resignation of UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green

Two Nebraska senators called for the resignation of University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green, following the release of the university’s diversity plan.

The plan, Journey for Anti-Racism and Racial Equity, focuses on five themes:

Advancing diversity, positioning learning through diversity, promoting an inclusive community, building an anti-racist infrastructure and acknowledging the impact of COVID-19 on minorities.

In a joint letter, Senators Steve Erdman and Steve Halloran said Nebraska’s state colleges and universities are “devolving at an alarming rate” and “despite University President Ted Carter insisting critical race theory is not being taught on campus, they believe it’s become normalized and standardized throughout the NU system.

The letter follows Gov. Pete Ricketts’ remarks in a news conference last week where he said he lost faith in Green and felt misled by his plans.

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Ricketts again talked about his disappointment with the diversity proposal Monday on his statewide radio show. He said he thinks it includes critical race theory, something he is against. But he stopped short of calling for Green to step down.

“This really makes it obvious why the administration was opposing Regent Jim Pillen’s resolution to ban critical race theory on the campus of University of Nebraska because they were planning on doing it, which is really kind of shocking to me about this or one of the shocking things,” Ricketts said.

Ricketts took issue with the inclusion of language from author and professor Ibram X. Kendi, whose 2019 book ‘How to be an Anti-Racist’ became a best-seller.

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Nebraska State Senator Michaela Cavanaugh responded to the governor with a letter of her own last week, saying he is attacking education institutions and attempting to create division among Nebraskans based on the color of their skin.

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