In a political climate where diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are facing unprecedented rollbacks, students across the country are refusing to stay silent.
Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take In a political climate where diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are facing unprecedented rollbacks, students across the country are refusing to stay silent.
With lawmakers taking aim at DEI programs, financial aid for marginalized students, and even access to in-state tuition, the stakes for student advocacy have never been higher. 'One of the biggest scares or concerns I have right now is how they're defining everything as DEI,' Taylor Allgood, cohost of The Student Impact Report podcast, said on a recent episode. 'That’s incredibly scary because what is that going to mean if professors aren’t able to mention alternative perspectives in their teaching? Or if they even mention a different type of theory…that doesn’t align with the normative perspective?' These fears are far from hypothetical. A February 14 memo from the Trump administration ordered schools to dismantle their DEI programs within 14 days or risk losing federal funding. More than 50 colleges and universities are being investigated as part of federal efforts to end DEI initiatives nationwide. As of early February, Republican lawmakers in 20 states had introduced about 50 bills to restrict DEI programs in education and other sectors, according to an Associated Press analysis. This isn't just a political talking point. At the Student Basic Needs Coalition , an organization that addresses food, housing, and health insecurity among college students, we know our peers are already feeling the consequences. 'Diversity, equity, and inclusion impacts everyone,' Jaleah Taylor, student body president at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , said on that same episode of The Student Impact Report podcast, which is run by SBNC. 'Even before some of these executive orders ,” Jaleah explained, North Carolina was “one of the states that was already on this track.” She pointed out that UNC-Chapel Hill was one of the institutions named in the Supreme Court decision that led to the end of affirmative action in college admissions. Following the UNC board of governors' May decision to repeal its DEI policy, UNC-Chapel Hill closed its DEI office last fall. Jaleah said UNC-Chapel Hill’s DEI office didn’t just address issues related to race and ethnicity on campus but also supported interfaith practices. These policy changes are “affecting everyone,” she added. After that decision, despite the efforts of the admissions office to ensure diversity, she said, “We did see a decrease in the amount of Black students that were accepted and enrolled at UNC.” A chilling effect on campus The growing hostility toward DEI is making some students reconsider where they want to go to school. Ohio’s Senate Bill 1, which has passed the state Senate and is under consideration in the House, would prohibit public institutions of higher education from requiring DEI statements in hiring and admissions, eliminate certain diversity training, and restrict how professors discuss topics related to race, gender, and systemic inequality. It would also ban faculty strikes and put diversity scholarships at risk. Many students worry about the potential consequences of such sweeping changes. For students of color, LGBTQ+ students, and others who have relied on DEI programs for institutional support, the rollbacks feel deeply personal. 'I benefited from these programs going to school,' Taylor shared on the podcast episode. 'I chose to go to the University of Cincinnati as opposed to an out-of-state school because I was able to receive the Darwin T. Turner scholarship, which serves historically marginalized communities. If I didn’t receive that scholarship, I would not have gone to school in Ohio.' These policies will likely have unintentional financial consequences for state colleges and universities along with local communities as some students choose to attend other institutions or forgo college altogether. Beyond race: The broader impact of DEI One of the biggest misconceptions about DEI is that it only benefits certain racial groups. In reality, DEI policies impact everything from food pantries on college campuses to accessibility for students with disabilities. Jaleah emphasized the importance of each part of DEI for college students. For instance, she said, inclusion is 'how we make sure that everyone feels they have a voice and that they’re included.' About diversity, she said, “When you have a diverse group of students from different backgrounds and experiences, you're to have better conversations and interpret history, media, politics, and science differently and kind of come to better solutions.” The push to dismantle DEI programs, some argue, is a direct attack on students' ability to advocate for themselves. 'The implication that marginalized groups just existing on campus is radical or wasteful is, in itself, really reductive,' podcast cohost Maya Denaé Taylor said. It creates a “mindset that marginalized groups can’t speak for themselves” or occupy spaces meant for joy, education, or leadership, she continued. Students are fighting back Despite the attacks, students aren’t backing down. At UNC, Jaleah has been at the forefront of efforts to preserve DEI on campus, working alongside other student advocates, college administrators, and state lawmakers to push against rollbacks. 'So many different student organizations to our state legislature offices to advocate,' she said. 'I have worked with administrators in the chancellor’s office, as well as other elected officials, to advocate for DEI or at least some aspects of it…” Alongside her advocacy for DEI, she’s leading the charge on UNC’s proposed meal swipe donation program, which would allow students to donate extra meal swipes from their meal plan to peers, and working with administrators and fellow students to make it a reality. Peer universities like North Carolina State and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte have already developed similar programs, Jaleah told local news outlet Chapelboro.com, pointing out that 96% of surveyed Carolina students said they supported the proposal. “We found that even students who were not facing food insecurity on campus were willing to support this plan,” she said on The Student Impact Report podcast. “That just shows even people who might not necessarily be impacted by DEI or certain other policies are impacted because they want to see other students around them succeed.' Once implemented, the program could become a model for how student-led solutions can make campus a place where everyone’s basic needs are met. Student leadership and hope for the future While many of the ongoing DEI policy shifts feel discouraging, student leaders like Jaleah are proving that advocacy makes a difference. She credits previous student leaders for paving the way and inspiring her to take action. 'All three of the student body presidents that came before me were also Black,' Jaleah said. 'Hearing about their experiences and the way that they advocated in a room full of people who did not look like them was definitely something that was really empowering for me.” Jaleah also takes inspiration from prior generations of UNC-Chapel Hill Black student leaders. She pointed to Reyna Walters-Morgan, a former UNC-Chapel Hill student body president who brought a voting site to campus. She’s now at the Democratic National Committee as the vice chair for civic engagement and voter participation, working on “voter engagement and people have all the resources and access to voting.” As her time as student body president comes to an end, Jaleah is optimistic about the next generation of student advocates. 'Diversity, equity, inclusion came to UNC in 2019, and it was here for five years. And just as fast as it left us, it can come back,” she said. It’s up to students to make sure that happens. If history has shown anything, it's that students will continue to lead the fight for justice even when institutions fail them. 'Policies may change, but the fight for equity in education is not going anywhere,' Taylor said. 'Students have been at the forefront of change, and as we’ve seen today, the legacy does live on. Whether it’s pushing back against harmful policies, advocating for inclusive campuses, or stepping into leadership roles, we want to remind you that your voice as a student and as a leader does matter.” For students looking to take action, Taylor has one piece of advice: 'Stay informed, get involved, and find ways to support the leaders and movements working to protect and expand education for all students.”
Colleges Universities Politics Op-Ed Trump Donald Trump Education Diversity Lgbtq Lgbtq Youth U.S. Government
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Poll: American voters are deeply divided on DEI programs and political correctnessBridget Bowman is a national political reporter for NBC News.
Read more »
Trump admin planning to consolidate HIV programs, slashing 'overhead' and DEI: officialThe Trump administration plans to make cuts to similar HIV prevention programs run by HHS for cost savings, an administration official tells Fox News Digital.
Read more »
JPMorgan renamed its DEI programs. Read the memo.Business Insider tells the global tech, finance, stock market, media, economy, lifestyle, real estate, AI and innovative stories you want to know.
Read more »
Texas’ DEI debate centers on a disagreement about whether programs perpetuate or prevent discriminationSupporters say diversity initiatives close educational and income gaps born from a history of prejudice. Republican officials say they prioritize identity over merit.
Read more »
Texas’ DEI debate centers on a disagreement about whether programs perpetuate or prevent discriminationSupporters say diversity initiatives close educational and income gaps born from a history of prejudice. Republican officials say they prioritize identity over merit.
Read more »
FCC Targets Disney, ABC With Potential DEI Programs ProbeEarlier this year, the company stepped back from some DEI efforts. The FCC is also investigating Comcast's policies.
Read more »