Florida Institute of Technology President John Nicklow is under fire after being recorded discussing efforts to reword diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) language in university programs to secure $7 million in government funding. The footage, released by O’Keefe Media Group (OMG), has sparked renewed scrutiny of how taxpayer dollars are tied to ideologically-driven academic agendas.
In the leaked video, Nicklow recounted a conversation with a government official who questioned the university’s DEI emphasis, reportedly asking, “Why are you so woke?” The official cited specific programs such as Florida Tech’s Institute for Culture, Collaboration, and Management (ICCM) as examples of the concern. Nicklow admitted to altering program language after the exchange to avoid potential backlash.
“I called Rich and we kind of tweaked the language,” Nicklow said, implying the changes were made to downplay DEI-related phrasing. He continued, “These people are just looking for words, okay. They are simply searching… without understanding.” The comment suggested that officials vetting grant requests use keyword searches for DEI terms rather than evaluating content in context.
OMG reported that Nicklow initially tried to push back against the government’s concerns but ultimately prioritized the funding. “If we have to change some words… so we’re not targeted—it allows us to do our work,” Nicklow said in the video, acknowledging the financial stakes involved.
Also present in the footage was Julie Costopoulos, head of the school of psychology, who questioned whether the department should adjust course catalog language to avoid public DEI scrutiny. Nicklow responded that faculty would not be fired for teaching such courses but advised them to be cautious about how the information appears publicly.
Nicklow has since denied the claims when confronted by O’Keefe, calling the reporting “not true.” Florida Tech reportedly sent OMG a cease-and-desist letter following the release.
The video has ignited criticism about the use of DEI language as a gateway to federal funding and raised questions about transparency in how academic institutions position their programs to meet ideological standards. It also highlights the growing backlash against universities accused of prioritizing political correctness over educational integrity and fiscal accountability.
