In a surprising about-face, the Universities of Wisconsin regents approved a deal Wednesday evening with Republican legislators to limit diversity positions at the system’s two dozen campuses in exchange for money to cover staff raises and construction projects.

The regents ultimately passed the plan by an 11-6 vote during a video conference, capping an ugly five-day episode. The board had previously rejected the deal on a 9-8 vote Saturday amid complaints from Democrats that it would sell out minority and LGBTQ+ students and faculty.

But after a closed-door meeting Tuesday led by Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman, three regents who initially opposed the proposal voted for it Wednesday, including Karen Walsh, Amy Blumenfeld Bogost and Jennifer Staton. They said ahead of Wednesday’s vote that they opposed the plan at first because it needed more deliberation. Since then they’ve had time to review and discuss the deal, they said.