"Any Jackass Can Knock Down a Barn"

Peggy Noonan once said, "Any jackass can knock down a barn, but it takes a man to build one." That's where we are with DEI. The barn isn't just shaky — it's falling apart. Critiques are easy to come by, and a lot of them are valid. But it's not enough to just knock it all down. The hard — and important — part is figuring out what to build in its place.

What's Broken

One of the biggest problems with DEI as it's practiced today is that it's stopped being about inclusion and opportunity and has turned into a rigid framework for conformity. Too often, opposing viewpoints are treated as harmful, and those who express them are shut down or labeled. Instead of learning how to engage with ideas they disagree with, students are learning how to avoid them altogether.

Then there's intellectual diversity — or the lack of it. Universities used to be places where ideas clashed, where students could wrestle with opposing viewpoints and grow from the experience. Now, it feels like the goal is to avoid discomfort at all costs.

Equity Misused

At its core, inclusion is a good idea — it's about meeting people where they are and giving them the tools to succeed. But somewhere along the way, it got twisted. Schools are eliminating honors programs and AP classes in the name of fairness. But think about what that does: you're not lifting anyone up, just holding many back.

Real fairness isn't about making everything the same. It's about creating multiple pathways so every student has the chance to thrive. To all the big-name colleges who praise DEI: what are you doing to improve the K-12 landscape in areas where kids don't have access to technology and resources?

Rebuilding the Barn

First, we have to put free speech and intellectual diversity back at the center. DEI can't be about shutting down ideas — it has to be about creating space for all voices. Second, fairness has to be about opportunity, not outcomes. Not everyone is going to end up in the same place. The goal is to make sure everyone has the tools to succeed based on their abilities and efforts. Finally, inclusion has to be about connection — fostering environments where people can engage honestly and respectfully.