Joint Statement | Prohibitions on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Will Limit the Professions

For Immediate Release:

Washington, D.C. September 21, 2023 — The planning, design, and use of built and natural environments have direct and indirect impacts on people. Competent practitioners of architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, and interior design must understand the histories of their profession and of the communities with which they will work. They must also be able to understand the impact of their work on people and communities as a result of practice today and in the future. Practitioners must understand the factors that affect vulnerable people and communities, including people of color, women, LGBTQIA people, and people with disabilities. No understanding is fully possible without access to educational information and discussion about social factors including privilege, bias, discrimination, sexism, and racism, among others.

“This united declaration stands as a strong objection to the legislation that silences educators from sharing the histories of the architectural profession. Practitioners, educators, and students must be granted access to the complete narrative. Being privy to only a portion of the story significantly disadvantages us all,” Mo Zell, 2023-24 ACSA President.

The boards of directors of the four organizations representing university programs and educators in architecture, landscape architecture, planning, and interior design—ACSA, CELA, ACSP, and IDEC— jointly communicate our opposition to any legislation that prevents educators from teaching and sharing complete and accurate knowledge about the built environment for the purpose of shielding students from “divisive” or “disagreeable” content related to the impact of race and racism in American and global society, as well as other pedagogy related to gender and LGBTQ+ identities. Such legislation has already been passed in Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, South Dakota, and Virginia, and other moves are underway. These laws serve to suppress student exploration of pressing issues that affect the country and that are essential to preparing future practitioners in the built environment disciplines.

The decisions to eliminate certain sectors of discourse in public institutions is especially concerning, because they impinge on students’ right to free speech, on the basic principles of faculty’s academic freedom, and on the ability of American citizens to participate fully in democratic use of our shared resources. Limited access to educational resources in K-12 education also impinges on students’ access to future educational opportunities.

We call on federal, state and local governments to respect the professional expertise of educators at all levels in preparing for the next generation of practitioners. We call on Federal, State and local governments to support educators as they provide students of all ages and backgrounds with the proper skills for emerging technologies.