University of Missouri investigating professor after video alleges DEI sympathies
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The University of Missouri is investigating allegations of staff violating federal and state laws against diversity, equity and inclusion practices after a video reportedly showing a professor expressing support for DEI surfaced Monday.
The video, filmed by Accuracy in Media with what appears to be a hidden camera, shows University of Missouri professor and chair of the Department of Sociology Wayne Brekhus speaking with an AIM investigator about DEI on campus.
"I think we have a lot of awesome courses. And lots of us do, you know, DEI type of research," Brekhus says in the video. "Lots of us do DEI types of research and things like that. I do things with identities and inequalities and used to do a lot of LGBTQ research and things like that."
The conversation then moved to DEI centers on campus.
"Usually what places did is, 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 says.
AIM said the video shows a public employee breaking the law.
"What we see consistently is that these administrators are breaking laws, deceiving laws, ignoring executive orders to push their radically divisive politics no matter what they're told to do otherwise, and every taxpayer should be outraged," AIM President Adam Guillette said.
Several X users saw the video and pressured MU to take action. In response, the University of Missouri reported that an investigation was to take place.
"Professor Brekhus’ conduct will be investigated and appropriate actions will be taken. Mizzou voluntarily eliminated all DEI programs and DEI requirements in the curriculum. Mizzou has complied with all federal directives to end DEI research projects," a post on MU's X account stated.
The university later shared 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."
MU posted that "appropriate actions will be taken" after an investigation.
"Mizzou voluntarily eliminated all DEI programs and DEI requirements in the curriculum. Mizzou has complied with all federal directives to end DEI research projects," MU posted.
State Sen. Stephen Webber (D-Columbia) called the response "pathetic."
"'Thanking' someone who secretly recorded one of your long time 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 @Mizzou," Webber wrote.
Also on X, Republican Lt. Gov. Dave Wasinger praised the school for their investigation.
"Glad to see @mizzou is immediately addressing this. Missouri taxpayers expect our public universities to educate, not indoctrinate with DEI programs," Wasinger wrote.
The University of Missouri faced pressure from Republican lawmakers on DEI practices in 2024 and later cut funding for identity-based organizations.
AIM has conducted similar investigations at other universities, including the University of Missouri-Kansas City, resulting in the suspension of Kim Johnson, the senior program manager of student support.
"These individuals definitely think that we share their radical ideology and as a result, they consistently feel comfortable bragging to us about how they're using deception to continue pushing DEI, oftentimes, in violation of state laws," Guillette said.
Guillette was previously vice president of development for Project Veritas, an American right-wing activist group. AIM says it wants to hold public policy actors accountable through its hidden camera investigative journalism.
This is an ongoing story.
