The Wyoming Senate voted 16 to 14 to eliminate the University of Wyoming Gender Studies program with a budget amendment.
The amendment came from Lingle Sen. Cheri Steinmetz, a member of the appropriations committee, who was reviewing course offerings at UW and thought some of the topics were extreme.
“It’s one that’s caused me to lose some sleep because as being (one of) the folks that deal with the public funds going to this University, I felt that this was one that our constituents, I know certainly mine, wouldn't agree with,” said Steinmetz. “And I would challenge any of you to take this home to your constituents and ask them what they think of it.”
Casper Sen. Charles Scott said, “this is extremely biased, ideologically driven that I can’t see any academically legitimacy to.”
But another Casper Sen. Bill Landen said he found it ironic to consider cutting Gender Studies in the same building where women were given the right to vote.
Cheyenne Sen. Tara Nethercott said the amendment goes too far and suggested that it might not be legal. The Wyoming House rejected a similar amendment saying that it was not an appropriate budget amendment.
The issue will come up again when House and Senate budget conference committee members meet. It could also be subject to a line item veto by the governor.
