BYU leader rejected the world' s diversity training weeks before volleyball game racism - Axios Salt Lake CityLog InLog InAxios Salt Lake City is an Axios company.

BYU leader rejected the world' s diversity training

Students walk past the entrance of Brigham Young University in Provo. Photo: George Frey/Getty Images Not long before a BYU fan at Duke volleyball players who are Black, the Church's education commissioner said it should not "[mimic] the world" with its approach to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Catch up quick: BYU has faced a firestorm of criticism since Rachael Richardson said she and her Black teammates were targeted with slurs and threats at a Friday game in Provo. lasted "the entirety of the match," but neither BYU nor the referees took action during the game. from its sports venues. The big picture: BIPOC students encountered "inadequate accountability and coordination" in BYU's attempts to address racism, according to a far-reaching 2021 .The report stressed the need for "extensive diversity and inclusion training programs" for students and employees.BYU last fall launched its "Office of Belonging" to help root out racism and prejudice at the school. Yes, but: Clark Gilbert, the commissioner of education for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this month during BYU Education Week: "The DEI programs in the world are not the way BYU should do it."He argued that BYU should "find a gospel-centered approach" to "be a light to the world but not replicating the world." Between the lines: Gilbert's remarks suggest BYU has not finalized or implemented its diversity training plans.Neither BYU nor the Church has responded to Axios' request for details about DEI training introduced since the 2021 report. Of note: Richardson credited her team's own DEI training program for helping her to endure Friday's game."This helped to equip us to deal with the situation in a mature manner rather than to react in a retaliatory manner," she . Get more local stories in your inbox with .Subscribe Support local journalism by becoming a member.

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