Diversity statements that require orthodoxy are beyond "not having a measurable positive effect". The article just now has given an example to the contrary.

This is a emperors new clothes parable. Since university administrators probably aren't too stupid, it might be adequate to suggest that it is indeed malice that motivates their actions.

For the grad students it is probably severe naivete. Hopefully universities concentrate on helping with that.

If you want to improve universities, you would start to exclude people like the law dean, that changed the mission of universities because his ego demands it.