Alabamians for Academic Excellence and Integrity
Alabamians for Academic Excellence and Integrity (AAEI) is a non-profit advocacy group which aims to promote education programs which are "rooted in the classical Western tradition", also described as "the Judeo-Western Civilization".
The organization was founded in 2021 by Earl Tilford and Larry Clayton. It has advocated for the institution of an Alabama Classical College and has lobbied for the elimination of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs in Alabama's public colleges.
Tilford's documentation of DEI initiatives at the University of Alabama was used heavily in a 36-page document from the Upland, California-based Claremont Institute, a conservative think tank, entitled "“Going Woke in Dixie?". Tilford distributed the document to Republican members of the Alabama State Senate and testified in hearings prior to the passage of Act of Alabama 2024-34 during the 2024 Alabama legislative session.
References
- Johnson, Roy S. (March 28, 2024) "My chat with man who stoked the anti-DEI flames in Alabama." opinion AL.com