I've been mulling over New Discourses' Translations from the Wokish, and how we have seen a divergence of dictionaries in the era of Critical Social Justice. I think sane institutions (perhaps especially higher ed) will ultimately need to develop ideals over against the DEI language currently ubiquitous in academia (or, “JEDI” if aiming for maximum cringe factor).
I’ll grant that many of these institutions, or at least the activists embedded within them, know exactly what dictionary they are using, and are actually pushing toward such activist policies (the squeakiest wheel does the steering). They are likely uninterested in examining the horrific implications of motte-and-bailey terminology.
However, given (let's optimistically assume) a simple majority of the well-intentioned, maybe there is a way to articulate a set of positive institutional traits/mentalities. Not merely what a sane human might stand opposed to, but what he would stand for instead. This is what leads me to think of "MORE." No doubt there would be ways to refine this and be yet more deliberate in the language, but these words are my initial stab at answering the "mask-off," anti-human implications of DEI institutional engineering.
In fact, one implication of these points is that they would in most cases swing away from institutional engineering. Just as with the market, the idea would be not to introduce so many guardrails that you encroach on the road itself. Good outcomes and personal growth are powerful at the level of the individual, and should be given the chance to flow out and build the community. This is difficult or impossible to the extent that said community attempts to fiddle with them from the top down.
Aim for "MORE" - Merit, Opportunity, Resilience, and Empiricism
Merit
(contrast "Diversity")
Outcomes should be based on practice, effort, and objective standards. Anyone who can meet the standards has earned a place, irrespective of background or identity. When we lower or abandon a standard or qualification, we necessarily introduce the possibility of a worsened outcome, which becomes a reality given time and chance.
Opportunity
(contrast "Equity")
The removal of barriers for some does not necessitate deliberately placing them in front of others. Human interaction should regarded as a positive-sum game. Barriers that only exist implicitly and unconsciously are ill-addressed by mechanisms meant to regulate explicit, conscious practices. Further, existence of a disparity between one person and another, or one group and another, does not ipso facto prove the presence of any such barriers.
Resilience
(contrast "Inclusion")
Growth is often achieved through overcoming challenge and adversity. Creating challenge-free environments stifles personal growth and engenders fragility in the long run. Robust discussion (free, even controversial speech and debate) and thinking outside of comfort zones provides a superior toolkit for self-sufficiency and flourishing.
Empiricism
(contrast… well, most of postmodernism in general; note that “empiricism” is here used only to mean valuing verifiable truth about the world and not as opposed to, say, rationalism)
Reliable knowledge can be derived from demonstrable, repeatable experience. We possess the ability to objectively evaluate how well ideas align with reality (i.e. the truth), and communicate them to others. Processes developed to acquire such objective knowledge (such as the scientific method) are not restricted or intrinsically tied to any particular cultures or groups.
Just for fun
And because apparently Star Wars is the premier moral instructor of the postmodern era (remember, there are two types of people in the world, those who liked The Last Jedi and misogynists), I've rephrased and slightly reordered the above points.
As we all know, those who would oppose equity or incentivize competence are full of fear, anger, and hate.
Thus it is with maximal irony and tongue kept in cheek that I propose the SITH System of institutional commitments:
Standards (Merit)
Impartiality (Opportunity)
Truth (Empiricism)
Hardiness (Resilience)
Because let’s be honest, under a Critical Social Justice paradigm, sane people are already Nazis anyway. Better to be Sith Lords and at least get lightsabers out of the deal.
A hypothetical alternative to DEI
I really like this, Wesley! I am part of a company that has a JEDI role. I think if the time is ever right, I might introduce SITH as an alternative. I'll probably get pilloried but maybe it'll be worth it. Hehe.