The Martin Center has been running a series of pieces about higher education reforms in the states, and today we feature an article by Stephanie Smith, who looks at legislation in Alabama meant to put an end to the curse of DEI indoctrination in public universities. Governor Ivey has signed a bill, SB 129, and Smith says:

Government governs best when limited; freedom declines as government’s power increases. SB 129 embodies this principle by preventing state agencies, including public universities, from using taxpayer funds to compel individuals to affirm or adhere to certain concepts. These concepts, as defined in the law, often include the idea that an individual is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive due to his or her race or sex.

Professors will, of course, be free to talk or write about critical race theory and similar notions, but not to teach it as if it were settled truth.

Naturally, the academic left is up in arms over this. Smith continues,

Opponents of SB 129 have filed lawsuits arguing that the law infringes upon the First and Fourteenth Amendments, but the law’s design is fundamentally sound from a constitutional standpoint. The law does not prohibit the discussion of topics related to race or gender; it simply prohibits the government from compelling speech or funding specific ideological programs. It makes a clear distinction between academic freedom and government-mandated indoctrination.

There’s no constitutional right for professors to teach whatever they please at public expense.

Read the whole thing.