Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are central to a fair and just academic structure. Trinity’s Student Diversity and Inclusion office is rooted in social justice and contains values that align with the DEI label. Unfortunately, likely to avoid conflict with the Texas government, Trinity decided to change the office’s name to “Student Inclusion and Belonging.” Though this change occurred over the summer, since the presidential inauguration, DEI has been under constant attack. Our office and its name change are emblematic of an evolving political climate where the words “diversity, equity and inclusion” make even the president of the United States quake in his boots.
Diversity and Inclusion are words that instantly ring a bell. Changing the title and removing the word “diversity” completely takes away from these offices’ actual impact and potential. Student Inclusion and Belonging innately entails a rhetorical shift geared toward those who are socially and economically privileged. Not to mention that “belonging” is a broad description for an office that primarily works to create an accepting and diverse environment; inclusion and belonging are words that can be extended to those who may not be aware of their privilege.
Imagine a scenario in which an able-bodied student attends the Disability Inclusion Fair and feels excluded. With the newly embedded title, this able-bodied individual could very well walk into the office and report an instance in which they “don’t feel like they belong” at a social event meant to empower those who struggle with disabilities.
Straying away from the DEI label completely takes away from the intended impact of the event and creates an outlet for self-centered, able-bodied, straight white students to express their “struggles.” Not only is this scenario wasting the time of the office, completely straying away from its intended mission, but it also amplifies the notion that privileged people struggle as much as the minority groups that the DEI office is meant to serve. This label is simply too broad and lacks any specificity regarding what the office is attempting to accomplish.
Removing the DEI label is most likely a way to forestall future Texas legislation that would target DEI offices at private schools. The Student Diversity and Inclusion Office used to help students, and now it barely does anything. In turn, this leaves the workers for the SDIO office at risk of being let go, as well as providing an excuse for them to ignore the mistreatment of certain marginalized students. Although the problematic nature of this may seem obvious, people still seem to believe that the mistreatment of marginalized groups isn’t relevant anymore, and lack the understanding that bigotry is systemically rooted in how the United States was founded.
If Trinity cared about its student body, the board of directors would know that this change is detrimental to the students who are most vulnerable to bigotry. The amount of prejudice and hate speech I’ve seen and experienced has pushed Trinity down to a new ethical low. I strongly encourage students affected by this change to spread the word about their personal experiences of bigotry and to stand together; never be afraid to make your voice heard.
