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University Of Tennessee Department Head Boasts Of DEI Flying Under The Radar In Red State

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, might not have a diversity, equity, and inclusion office anymore, but it’s still pushing DEI goals and flying under the radar in a heavily Republican state, a university department head said in a video obtained by The Daily Wire. 

Casey A. Barrio Minton, Professor and Department Head of Counselor Education, was caught on camera last month saying that Tennessee’s “Access and Engagement” office, which used to be called the “Diversity and Inclusion” office, isn’t “a whole lot different.” 

“They practice DEI?” Barrio Minton was asked in the video.

“They do,” she replied, “And they do many of the same things.” 

“I haven’t noticed a big shift in the programming. I haven’t noticed a big shift of climate on campus beyond trying to ride the waves,” Barrio Minton added. 

President Donald Trump signed an executive order immediately after he took office in January, calling DEI policies “illegal” and stating, “It is the policy of the United States to protect the civil rights of all Americans and to promote individual initiative, excellence, and hard work.” 

Even though Barrio Minton admitted that the University of Tennessee continues to push DEI, she argued that the school is compliant with federal law. 

“The law essentially says you can’t force DEI training on staff or whatnot. And they also say no student shall be penalized for their failure to subscribe to any of these beliefs, right?” Barrio Minton continued. “So, some people took that to mean you can’t teach about racism or systemic oppression or privilege. That was the interpretation. That’s not what the law says.” 

“The university has been very clear to us: the law says we don’t punish people based on their beliefs, but we don’t punish people. We educate,” she said. 

The professor and department head said that she wasn’t concerned about the federal government going after Tennessee over DEI since the Trump administration has focused on universities in blue states. 

“Most of the fireworks that are happening are happening in very blue areas,” Barrio Minton continued. 

The Trump administration cut nearly $40 million in federal grants handed out to the University of Tennessee, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported in May. Those cuts were part of the president’s wider spending cuts that affected universities across the country and not due to anything Tennessee did in violation of federal law. 

As an example of how Tennessee continues to focus on DEI, Barrio Minton said the school recently put in “all-inclusive restrooms,” called “All Vol” restrooms — a reference to the school’s mascot, the Volunteers — for trans-identifying students to use. 

“The inclusive restrooms are ‘All Vol’ restrooms, like a single stall, inclusive, accessible restroom,” she said. 

“Instead of all gender [restrooms]?” she was asked. 

“Yeah. You know, we had a number of trans students, so there became an initiative to convert a small restroom to be an ‘All Vol’ restroom,” Barrio Minton added. 

In response to a Daily Wire inquiry, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, sent a statement from Randy Boyd, the President of the University of Tennessee System, on “Clarifying the Role of Access and Engagement.” 

“The purpose of access and engagement is to support academic access, foster community partnerships and promote merit-based student success. These efforts are directly aligned with our System’s Statement of Aspirations, which commits us to removing barriers to educational opportunity and ensuring every Tennessean has the chance to succeed,” Boyd said. “Let me be clear: access and engagement is not DEI in disguise. All our work must and will remain fully compliant with state and federal law.” 

Boyd added that he has launched an independent review of the Access and Engagement office’s “activities across the UT system.”  

“This review will be prioritized to ensure our ongoing compliance with federal and state laws, as well as adherence to my charge,” the UT System president added. “As an additional measure, we are instituting mandatory training for all employees across the system to ensure that everyone knows the laws and regulations applicable in this space.”

The Daily Wire also reached out to Barrio Minton, requesting comment. 

The department head isn’t the only University of Tennessee staffer to give a glimpse of how the school is pushing DEI. Will Eakin, a coordinator for Tennessee’s Access and Engagement office, said in a recording obtained by Fox News that they play “a chess game” to “make sure that it aligns so that we can do the work that we’re trying to do, while also catering to the Department of Education.” 

The University of Tennessee is one of numerous colleges across the country under federal investigation for potential antisemitism and discrimination on campus. 

“The University of Tennessee is currently under investigation by the Department of Education for potential Title VI violations relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination on campus. We expect all academic institutions that receive taxpayer support to abide by federal law and will continue to vigorously hold violators accountable,” Education Department Press Secretary Savannah Newhouse told The Daily Wire. 

Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn sent a letter to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, last week after video footage showed employees discussing the school’s continued DEI priorities. 

“As a beneficiary of federal funding, UTK has a responsibility to align with the President’s executive order and return to a focus on providing quality education to your students,” Blackburn wrote. 

An administrator at another Tennessee college, Vanderbilt University in Nashville, was also caught on camera discussing how the college pursues DEI goals. 

“All the things that I would say are components of DEI work are part of what we do,” said Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students G.L. Black in a video obtained by The Daily Wire and published last week. “Even if we don’t label everything as DEI work.”

After The Daily Wire published its report on Vice Provost Black’s comments, Vanderbilt released a statement, saying that it has hired a law firm to review “the specific circumstances related to the recordings” and identify “steps the university can take to ensure … all employees act in accordance” with policies.

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