Part of the problem is that public universities operate with almost no oversight from state governments. They're overseen by disinterested boards of trustees etc. who rubberstamp documents and give university administrators free reign. Accountability only comes when an episode blows up in the media and wealthy donors threaten to boycott.

Another problem is that those who are damaged by harmful institutional cultures are forced to do the work to fix those cultures. And, at institutions with no oversight, they often pay the price in overt or subtle retaliation. I fully expect to be "scheduled" for a meeting with UIS HR as a result of publishing this story—a summons I will promptly ignore, as it forces me to do the work that should be done by very (!) well paid university administrators. Plus, I've also learned that UIS HR is not an active agent in creating a more welcoming place for LGBTQIA+ people on campus. Its main job seems to administer policy in such a way as to prevent the university from being sued.