Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R), signed legislation that required state colleges and universities nationwide to survey their students, faculty, and staff annually about their beliefs in order to guarantee "viewpoint diversity" and intellectual freedom.Why it matters: Although the legislation doesn't provide any specifics about how survey results will be used in practice, DeSantis stated that schools found to have "indoctrinated" students weren't "worth tax dollars and were "not something we're going to be supporting going forward."Axios Markets delivers market news that is worth your time. Register now for a free subscriptionThe overall picture: According to the legislation, the survey will evaluate the "extent to... which competing ideas and perspectives were presented" and determine whether faculty, staff and students "feel free to voice their opinions and views on campus."They're saying this: DeSantis stated Tuesday that the bills would stop state schools becoming hotbeds of stale ideologies.According to the Tampa Bay Times, he stated that schools are now "intellectually oppressive environments" that encourage "orthodoxies." However, he did not specify which orthodoxies were being promoted by the schools.What's next? The law will go into effect July 1. Starting September 1, 2022, the survey will be done annually and reports will be published every September.You liked this article? Subscribe to Axios Markets and get more information from Axios.
