The polarizing, paralyzing permeation of politics has seeped into many facets of our lives. From impacting women’s bodily autonomy to creating conflict within our relationships, there is an unprecedented stage of government penetration, and the most recent victim is education.
The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) initiative began under the Biden Administration through Executive Order 13985. This initiative prioritized diverse atmospheres, specifically in education, catering to the needs of all students with underserved identities, learning disabilities, and socioeconomic challenges. After the Supreme Court’s rejection of race-based affirmative action in 2024, DEI has replaced it by emphasizing diversity and comfort within a college campus.
However, this dedication to diversity was slighted on Feb. 14, 2025, in a “Dear Colleague” letter from the Department of Education that threatened funding for any educational institution—elementary, secondary, and collegiate—that places considerable importance on race. Craig Trainor, the acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, authored the following:
“Federal law thus prohibits covered entities from using race in decisions pertaining to admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life,” Trainor wrote.
The letter gave the targeted institutions an ultimatum: two weeks to eliminate any student organizations that might break compliance with the “federal code”, or risk federal funding. This incites a direct attack on DEI efforts, in correlation with President Trump’s executive order titled, “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Prefencing,” which terminated over 100 bureaucratic jobs.
The Trump Administration argues that DEI violates Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964 stating “no person in the United States shall on the ground of race, color or national origin. Be excluded from participation and be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”
However, many citizens, including English Department Chair Kevin Cox, look to the roots of each principal, which justify DEI as a legitimate, education-focused initiative.
“I think the acronym of DEI itself has become such a trigger word, a reaction flash point for so many people,” Cox said. “Looking at the components individually, do we value diversity and differing perspectives? Do we feel equity is important and helps our students face challenges? Do we feel inclusion is important no matter who you are and what your background is? I would hope we could get people on board with that.”
Grosse Pointe South has not been a specific target of the federal government’s siege against inclusivity, but popular universities among current seniors have fallen victim. Michigan State University (MSU) has taken deliberate steps to reaffirm the importance of DEI on its campus and ensure students are informed.
“Our commitment to inclusion means we embrace access to success for all and treat all members of the extended MSU community with fairness and dignity… when perspectives clash, we have an individual and shared responsibility to guard against behaviors that demean or otherwise harm individuals and our community,” the MSU Board of Trustees wrote in their Statement on Diversity and Inclusion.
Another key player in this year’s college choices is the University of Wisconsin-Madison. What was once a dream school for Julia White ’25, a prospective Criminal Justice major, has lost its appeal after the university’s research funding was cut due to the DEI ultimatum.
“I think the removal of DEI policies will decrease support for marginalized groups on college campuses,” White said. “If fewer students belong to marginalized groups, then colleges will view support programs as less necessary. Students would then feel having a diverse population might not be important when, in reality, they’re losing diverse perspectives.”
The absolute termination of DEI initiatives across the country will prove detrimental to not only the sense of belonging and equality of the nation but will also impact the course of educational discussion and understanding.
“To not know about others is to not know who we are,” Cox said. “We are all shaped by the past, and differing experiences can help us better understand the human experience as a whole, and so getting to know other people, listening to their voices, understanding their perspectives, just makes us a stronger country and a healthier democracy.”
