Mizzou probes professor caught in anti-DEI sting operation as video draws scrutiny

The University of Missouri said it’s investigating a professor who was covertly recorded by a conservative advocacy group seeking to expose diversity, equity and inclusion programs on college campuses.

The chair of the university’s Department of Sociology, Wayne Brekhus, was recorded in what appears to be a candid conversation with a prospective student asking about the university’s DEI programs.

Brekhus says in the video that there is “DEI-types of research” at the university but that it has suffered amid a backlash against DEI.

“It’s been really tough on research, but so far they haven’t hit the curriculum,” Brekhus said in the video.

Brekhus also described how schools generally reorganized DEI programs rather than eliminate them. DEI is a broad framework of strategies meant to promote fair treatment, representation and participation, with a particular focus on underrepresented groups.

The expansiveness of what is considered DEI has made it difficult for Republican lawmakers to define it when attempting to institute a ban.

“What places did is kind of like they changed the name or they put them under a different umbrella to make it less visible that it was DEI or things like that,” Brekhus said. “They found clever ways to, like, continue to have DEI centers, but not call them that. It was mostly cosmetic.”

Mizzou promises investigation

The University of Missouri responded to the recordings on Monday with a statement from Brekhus.

“I apologize for my mistake. The video was taken last year as Mizzou was eliminating its DEI programs. I am fully aware that Mizzou no longer has DEI programs and does not conduct DEI research,” Brekhus said.

The university said Brekhus’ conduct “will be investigated and appropriate actions will be taken.” It also said the university voluntarily eliminated DEI programs and requirements in curriculum, and has complied with federal directions to end research projects on the subject.

The university responded to several posts about the video with an identical response: thanking individuals for bringing the issue to their attention, sharing Brekhus’ statement and saying it complies with laws and policies banning DEI. In a now-deleted post, the university replied to a hateful post with the same response.

“They’re going to destroy everything white men have built and in the end beg white men to save them,” the post for an anonymous account called theRoddick said.

The university deleted its response to the account and apologized.

“We inadvertently responded to posts made by those who have a hateful position. That was not our intent, and we apologize,” the university said.

DEI crackdown

The controversy comes amid a broader crackdown on diversity efforts in Missouri and across the country.

Last year, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe issued an executive order to eliminate DEI initiatives at state institutions and prevent any public funds from being used for DEI-related positions, organizations, policies and training.

The order defines DEI as attempts to hire based on race, gender or sexual orientation, and any policy, procedure, practice or organizational structure “intended to promote differential treatment of, or special benefits to,” people based on their identities.

The decision drew backlash from civil rights groups and student organizations on campus.

Tyler Coward, lead counsel for government affairs for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), said he doesn’t believe what occurred on the video violates Kehoe’s executive order on DEI.

“If the professor was just engaged in pure speech, talking to a student about institutional policies, that is protected speech, and the university should end any investigation into him,” Coward said.

Amaya Morgan, a former president of the Legion of Black Collegians, the student government association at the university, said it’s another instance of the university falling behind on DEI. Earlier this year, the school cut dedicated funding for the group and several other identity-based student organizations.

“They felt empowered to really stand on their anti-DEI stance, even though they’re quoting themselves as being open to all, and making sure that they’re being equal to all, which is the opposite of being equal to all,” Morgan said.

Sen. Stephen Webber, a Columbia Democrat, criticized the university for its response to the video.

“‘Thanking’ someone who secretly recorded one of your longtime employees for the express purpose of humiliating them and hurting your institution is one of the most pathetic examples of leadership I’ve ever seen in my life. Absolutely embarrassing,” Webber said on social media.

Accuracy in Media promises more videos

Accuracy in Media, the group that filmed Brekhus, has conducted similar undercover operations at dozens of other universities. Last month, it published a video of two University of Missouri-Kansas City administrators, one of whom was suspended.

The University of Missouri eliminated its Division of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity before the governor’s executive order to get ahead of forthcoming legislation and government action. Adam Guillette, the president of Accuracy in Media, said he believes the move wasn’t genuine and promised further exposés.

“I think they were trying to get ahead of it in deception in some way,” Guillette said. “This is the second video we released from the University of Missouri system, with the video at UMKC as well. And unfortunately for the taxpayers and the students in Missouri, we have a lot more videos coming from that state.”

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