Higher Ed Leaders--Do You Know Us?

After reading the article, (https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/diversity/2024/08/29/dei-division-closure-has-been-grieving-process-utah), I felt compelled to offer some additional clarity on what transpired, and to use this as an opportunity for reflection—not just for myself, but for others in higher education grappling with the wave of “DEI hysteria” that has swept across our country and campuses. Imagine what a world we could create if our universities had the courage to truly embody the ideals they espouse, instead of retreating in fear and hesitation.

As a former Director of one of the now-eliminated Centers, I have firsthand experience of the conversations and decisions that unfolded throughout last academic year, even before HB261 was introduced. My background in community organizing has always shaped my approach to this work, driven by the belief that it truly “takes a village.” When I first heard, in the summer of 2023, that this bill was on its way, my immediate instinct was to organize across our campus to mitigate any potential harm. I knew the bill was likely unstoppable. However, what I didn’t anticipate was the repeated resistance I encountered within the institution. It left me questioning why.

As the bill progressed through the legislature, the campus climate became increasingly tense, fueled by the rhetoric from the Capitol. I’ve already spoken in more detail about why I felt compelled to go public about what I witnessed, both in terms of student experiences and the internal resistance that minority staff, including myself, faced. The article correctly notes the perception that the rollout of plans for the Centers was delayed until faculty, staff, and students were off-campus. From my perspective, as someone advocating for more campus-wide input and student involvement, I saw many of these efforts being consistently shut down after the bill’s passage, despite the fact that we still had two months left in the spring semester. Again, I was left asking, why?

We all know the outcome, and to the citizens of Utah, I urge you to consider if everything you’ve been told adds up. Why were staff discouraged from trying to mitigate the impact of these changes during the school year? Why did the university go beyond what the law required and eliminate three Centers entirely? These are the questions I leave with you.

Higher education is currently facing multiple existential crises, with DEI being one of the most pressing. This issue cuts deeply because, for many of us, this work is more than just a job—it’s a reflection of our very identities. When we conduct trainings on these topics, I remind participants that for some of us, these identities are our lived realities. We do this work not just for the students, but to create safer and more inclusive communities. Therefore, these attacks aren’t just on our work; they’re attacks on our very character and identities. This reality is something many administrators, who may not share these identities, fail to fully grasp. And in this case, silence becomes complicity.

We’ve talked for years about what it means to be an ally to various minority communities. I’ve always said that being an ally isn’t just a noun—it’s a verb. It requires action, even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient. True allyship often involves making tough choices and confronting discomfort—the very discomfort that members of minority communities live with daily due to systemic inequities.

To the leaders in higher education, I say this: now is the time to choose. Real leadership will be revealed in this moment. The usual, performative expressions of sympathy and empathy will no longer suffice. Your actions—and your silence—will speak louder than ever before.

Remember, standing up for the minority communities on your campus may require discomfort and even risk to your career, just as I and others have done. Because remember, silence is complicity. And when Saint Peter, one of the most loyal disciples, was asked three times if he knew Jesus, he denied Him every time. In that moment of fear and discomfort, Peter chose self-preservation over loyalty.

Leaders, do you know us? When asked, will you stand with us, or will you deny us? The choice is yours, and history will remember it.