Victor Davis Hanson on DEI Hiring Scandals and Meritocracy

The Case of Ian Roberts

• 📌 Ian Roberts, superintendent of Des Moines schools, was fired due to an ICE detention order, revealing he was in the U.S. illegally.
• ⚠️ Roberts had a prior weapons charge and lied about his educational credentials, claiming a doctorate he never obtained.
• 🔍 Investigations into his status also uncovered he had an existing deportation order.
• 💰 Upon arrest, Roberts was found with $3,000 cash and a loaded Glock handgun.

Political and Public Reaction

• 📣 When Roberts was detained, a mass protest erupted to retain him, with the school board chairman calling for "radical empathy."
• 📉 The chairman, Jackie Norris, attempted to frame the situation as an ICE overreach, but backed off as more details emerged.
• 🗣️ The school board later claimed they were deceived, stating they hired a headhunting firm to find Roberts.

The Role of DEI in Hiring

• 🎯 Hanson argues Roberts was hired primarily because he was a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) candidate.
• 🌟 He was perceived as a charismatic Black American, and hiring him was seen as a "goodwill gesture" by the school district.
• 🚫 The hiring process apparently bypassed standard meritocratic evaluations, focusing on superficial characteristics rather than qualifications.

Dangers of DEI

• ⚠️ DEI practices can lead to omission and commission in hiring, where meritocratic standards are not applied.
• 🧩 This can result in unqualified individuals being hired over more deserving candidates who meet traditional qualifications.
• 📉 Hanson emphasizes that suspending meritocracy for ideological, superficial, or racial reasons is a very dangerous practice.