Faculty and students at Alabama’s public colleges appealed to the 11th Circuit to block a state law that bars diversity, equity and inclusion offices and programming, arguing the statute threatens free speech and academic freedom by criminalizing ambiguous concepts. Plaintiffs say the law’s vagueness undermines classroom discussion and due process and should not withstand constitutional scrutiny. In Utah, the state higher‑education commissioner publicly criticized Weber State University for over‑zealous censorship tied to the state’s anti‑DEI law after the school circulated lists of prohibited words for invited speakers. Officials said the university’s approach was ‘overly cautious’ and warned that aggressive enforcement of the statute risks chilling viewpoint diversity on campus.