In a secretly recorded board meeting shared with O’Keefe Media Group (OMG), Florida Institute of Technology President John Nicklow was seen discussing how the university had adjusted the language in its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in an effort to avoid potential defunding from the State and Federal Government.
During the meeting, Nicklow openly admitted to having modified the language in DEI courses and materials to circumvent Florida Tech from the state’s DEI ban. “[I] talked to the Diversity Cabinet, had a very good conversation… and we modified some of the language,” he said, revealing a calculated approach to prevent Florida Tech from becoming a target for defunding efforts backed by Governor Ron DeSantis.
Nicklow went on to warn of the financial implications should the university’s efforts be flagged by state officials. “If it then hits NSF [National Science Foundation], we lose millions of dollars,” he explained, emphasizing the risks that certain terminology, specifically related to “climate change” and “gender expression,” could have on securing federal research funding.
Nicklow went on to criticize government officials by saying, “They [the Government] are not smart people… They are simply searching, whatever comes back on [the] web, searching without understanding.” Determined to maintain Florida Tech’s academic programs and financial stability at all costs, Nicklow revealed, “Part of me driving back, I thought: ‘Why don’t we fight back?’”
Nicklow reassured faculty that teaching DEI courses would not put their jobs in jeopardy, stating, “You’re not going to get fired for teaching those [DEI] courses,” revealing the extent to which the university was willing to alter its public stance to ensure continued access to funding.
Nicklow also downplayed concerns about any conflict between the university’s core values and its altered language, asserting, “We have not changed, if you noticed, our core values on our website.”
In closing, Nicklow offered faculty a piece of advice on how to navigate the complex political landscape: “Well, you don’t get to pick and choose which parts of diversity community you support and which you don’t. My advice is, be mindful of words.” This suggestion revealed a careful balancing act between maintaining the university’s financial standing and complying with the DeSantis administration’s increasingly restrictive policies on DEI.
James O’Keefe confronted Nicklow with claims of the secretly recorded meeting exposing efforts to circumvent the governor’s DEI policies. Nicklow denied the allegation, saying, “No. Not true at all,” then questioned the legality of the recording and stated, “I’m going to have you talk to my attorney,” before ending the exchange with, “We’re not meeting. Thank you.”
Following a request for comment on a leaked recording provided by an anonymous source, Florida Tech President John Nicklow’s attorney, Richard (“Rick”) E. Mitchell, issued a cease-and-desist letter to O’Keefe Media Group. In the letter, Mitchell “demanded” OMG “refrain from publishing” what he claimed to be an “unlawful recording.” Despite the warning, OMG proceeded with the investigation, standing firm in its commitment to transparency and accountability.
