LINCOLN- Friday’s planned vote by the Nebraska Board of Regents on a resolution opposing critical race theory being taught on NU campuses continues to stir debate and has created divisions on the eight-member board.

Based on responses from regents contacted recently by The World-Herald, Regent Jim Pillen’s resolution will head into Friday’s board meeting with two votes for and two votes against. The resolution needs a simple majority, or five votes, in order to pass.

Chair Paul Kenney told The World-Herald that he will join Pillen in voting for the resolution. Regents Elizabeth O’Connor and Barbara Weitz said they will vote against it.

The other four regents declined to give their position or did not respond to questions from the newspaper. But others have been more vocal.

Gov. Pete Ricketts has been urging the board to pass Pillen’s resolution, and former Gov. Kay Orr criticized University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green on Monday after a group of six faculty and staff members issued a statement opposing the resolution. The group members are leaders of the chancellor’s anti-racism initiative.

On Tuesday, the Governor’s Office released a letter signed by over two dozen elected officials imploring the board to pass it. Those who signed include Ricketts, Lt. Gov. Mike Foley, Treasurer John Murante, Auditor Charlie Janssen and 22 state legislators — including Speaker Mike Hilgers of Lincoln and Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha, who’s also running for governor.

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