It’s shocking when rivals like Michigan and Ohio State agree on something.
Sadly, in this case, they both agreed to do the wrong thing, caving to the anti-DEI threats from the T**** administration and ending their DEI programs.
In February, Ohio State became one of the biggest universities to bow down to the White House’s racist anti-DEI mandate and “sunset” its Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Center for Belonging and Social Change as well as some of the services that were offered.
“I continue to believe that the best course for our university is to take actions proactively so that we can manage this new landscape in ways that best uphold the values of excellence, access and opportunity that we hold dear,” said President Carter.
The university stated it was complying with the law, which was an Executive Order entitled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.” It called for the “termination of all discriminatory programs, including illegal DEI and ‘diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences and activities in the Federal Government, under whatever name they appear.”
This past week, its arch-rival, the University of Michigan, followed in their footsteps and capitulated to the ridiculous EO.
Per the university, Michigan is, effective immediately, “closing the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Office for Health Equity and Inclusion, as well as discontinuing the DEI 2.0 Strategic Plan.”
“These decisions have not been made lightly. We recognize the changes are significant and will be challenging for many of us, especially those whose lives and careers have been enriched by and dedicated to programs that are now pivoting,” wrote the school in an official statement.
The programs brought positive results to the university, which noted “First-generation undergraduate students, for example, have increased 46% and undergraduate Pell recipients have increased by more than 32%, driven in part by the success of programs such as Go Blue Guarantee and Wolverine Pathways.”
Yet that success is now overshadowed by hate from an administration that seeks to eliminate progress under the guise of merit and fighting against discrimination, which we all know is a farce.
Michigan is reallocating its DEI resources to other areas aimed at continuing the success it achieved with DEI initiatives, and while that’s good, the decision is just a camouflaged response to hateful threats.
The decision brought a swift response from Black politicians in the state.
State Rep. Amos O’Neal, D-Saginaw, chair of the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus said the university’s decision was “disheartening.”
He also blasted the T**** administration for “working its hardest to whitewash” institutions, culture and history.
