Weekly Update

A message across the University of Utah library reads “U BELONG.” Because of a new state law, the university closed student resource and cultural centers and replaced them with two new centers that welcome all students. Credit: Olivia Sanchez/The Hechinger Report

A case study of what’s ahead with Trump DEI crackdowns

Utah’s law arose from a conservative view that DEI initiatives promote different treatment of students based on race, ethnicity, gender or sexuality. House Bill 261, known as “Equal Opportunity Initiatives,” which took effect last July, broadly banished DEI efforts and prohibited institutions or their representatives speaking about related topics at public colleges and government agencies. Violators risk losing state funding.

Now President Donald Trump has set out to squelch DEI work across the federal government and in schools, colleges and businesses everywhere, through DEI-related executive orders and a recent “Dear Colleague” letter. As more states decide to banish DEI, Utah’s campus may represent what’s to come nationwide.

Because of the new state law, the university last year closed the Black Cultural Center, the Center for Equity and Student Belonging, the LGBT Resource Center and the Women’s Resource Center – in addition to making funding cuts to the student affinity groups.

In place of these centers, the university opened a new Center for Community and Cultural Engagement, to offer programming for education, celebration and awareness of different identity and cultural groups, and a new Center for Student Access and Resources, to offer practical support services like counseling to all students, regardless of identity.

Remembering our friend and colleague Fazil Khan, a year later

A year ago, we lost our colleague Fazil Khan. We've updated our memorial to him with new details on ebike regulations and an internship we've created in his memory.  

Former Trump commissioner blasts DOGE education data cuts

The work of The National Center for Education Statistics is under threat because of cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE. That alarms a former Trump appointee who ran the statistics unit and fears it will become politicized.

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