The University of Missouri announced Tuesday that it would investigate an individual and a campus unit after an undercover video featured employees describing continued diversity, “equity” and inclusion (DEI) work under different organizational wording.
The recording centers on The Bridge, a program within Mizzou’s College of Education & Human Development. Accuracy in Media (AIM), the advocacy group behind the investigation, identified one speaker as academic adviser Ainsley Acuff. The university’s directory independently lists Acuff as an academic adviser.
The Bridge is “really focused on DEI,” Acuff said in the recording. She also described events, programming and discussions that students could attend.
A second speaker, whom AIM identified as a student staffer but did not name, described changes to the office overseeing The Bridge while saying its events continued to address multicultural perspectives and social justice issues.
The speaker said the program now fell under a college engagement and recruitment office and added, “we’re still trying to do the work.” The speaker said activities would proceed under “different wording.”
School-choice advocate Corey DeAngelis shared the video Tuesday, questioning whether the university had actually ended DEI programming.
Mizzou responds and AIM disputes the date
Mizzou said it would investigate “the individual and the unit in the video” and take appropriate action if it found violations of university policies or federal or state law.
The university said it had voluntarily eliminated all DEI programs and DEI requirements in its curriculum and had complied with federal directives to end DEI research projects. Mizzou also denied discriminating or granting preferential treatment based on race, color or national origin.
The two sides disagree about when AIM recorded the footage. Mizzou said the recording came from last year, during its elimination of DEI programs. AIM President Adam Guillette disputed that account in a direct reply, saying his group conducted the investigation in January 2026.
The public statements do not resolve that discrepancy. The recording’s release this week does not establish when the conversations occurred or whether the activities described continue today.
The Bridge predates Mizzou’s DEI rollback
The Bridge began in August 2015, according to a City of Columbia resource page describing the university program. That page lists developing social justice perspectives as its goal and describes learning, training and service tied to diversity, inclusion and “equity.”
Mizzou’s college directory also lists an educational programming coordinator and student clerical assistants for The Bridge. Those listings establish university-affiliated roles, but do not identify the program’s funding or establish a violation of DEI restrictions.
In a 2024 reorganization announcement, University of Missouri President Mun Choi outlined new reporting lines for units within the Division of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity. He said existing staff would continue serving students and that support and success programs would remain available after the reorganization.
Missouri’s fiscal 2026 higher-education budget, covering July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, included language barring state funding for university contracts, programs or positions focused solely on DEI or similar initiatives. The footage does not by itself establish which funds supported The Bridge or whether specific spending violated that provision.
Texas has faced similar compliance questions
In Texas, The Dallas Express previously documented 12 Dallas College job postings containing DEI expectations after the state’s higher-education DEI restrictions took effect. Dallas College said the postings appeared to contain language that might conflict with its compliance commitment and said it would remove and review them.
Provided by Dallas Express
