Nearly ten years ago, widespread demonstrations against racial inequality swept through the University of Missouri’s primary campus, resulting in the resignation of two high-ranking officials. In response to this upheaval, the university appointed its inaugural vice chancellor focused on inclusion, diversity, and equity. At that time, tensions were peaking, with football players threatening to go on strike and a graduate student entering a hunger strike.
Today, however, the entire office dedicated to diversity has been disbanded, reflecting a broader trend occurring across universities in states governed by conservative leadership, with potential implications for institutions nationwide.
Kenny Douglas, a student studying history and Black studies at the Columbia, Missouri campus, expressed concern about the future, particularly with Donald Trump’s anticipated presidency. Both conservative and liberal politicians are suggesting that the changes occurring in conservative states may serve as a model for the rest of the country.
Numerous programs aimed at promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion have already been disbanded in states such as Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, Iowa, Nebraska, and Texas. In certain instances, educational content related to racial and gender identity has been diminished, while support systems for underrepresented students have disappeared entirely. Some students have reported feeling compelled to consider leaving their schools due to the changing climate on campus.
During his campaign, Trump pledged to eradicate “wokeness” and curb what he termed “leftist indoctrination” within educational systems. He expressed intentions to dismantle diversity programs that he characterized as discriminatory and to impose penalties on colleges that fail to comply, potentially amounting to their entire endowment.
Many conservative figures echo this sentiment. Erec Smith, a research fellow at the Cato Institute, emphasized that such diversity initiatives promote the notion that “whiteness is oppression.” He further argued that these efforts detract from the agency of Black individuals and other minority groups.
The New College of Florida, once considered a hub of progressive values and a safe haven for LGBTQ+ students, has become a focal point in Republican Governor Ron DeSantis’ campaign against “woke” culture. In 2023, DeSantis restructured the Board of Trustees, appointing a number of conservative allies, including cultural strategist Christopher Rufo.
Many faculty members left in the previous year, and new conservative academics and associates have been brought in to fill these roles, including British comedian Andrew Doyle, who plans to teach a course titled “The Woke Movement” starting this January.
Rufo has indicated that these changes are merely the beginning of a broader initiative. Opponents of Trump often dismiss his portrayal of a liberal indoctrination epidemic on campuses as unfounded, while conservatives cite diversity initiatives and the skyrocketing student debt crisis as evidence of disconnect within higher education.
“What happens when an institution aims to alter societal norms?” questioned Adam Kissel, a new trustee at the University of West Florida associated with the Heritage Foundation, the group behind Project 2025, a strategy aimed at dismantling DEI efforts.
Indeed, the backlash against DEI programs has been pronounced. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey recently enacted legislation barring public colleges from promoting “divisive concepts,” which includes insinuations that individuals should feel guilty based on their race or gender. This law also mandates that individuals must use restrooms corresponding to their assigned gender at birth.
The impact of this anti-DEI legislation was felt acutely at institutions like the University of Alabama and Auburn University, where DEI offices and spaces intended for LGBTQ+ and Black students were closed just before classes resumed in late August.
Dakota Grimes, a chemistry graduate student at Auburn, expressed disappointment over the university’s decision to shut down the Pride Center, a crucial safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals. Although her organization, the Sexuality and Gender Alliance, continues to meet, Grimes indicated that an atmosphere of hostility, marked by derogatory remarks from both students and faculty, has made LGBTQ+ individuals feel less secure on campus.
Similarly, Julia Dominguez, a political science senior and president of the Hispanic-Latino Association at the University of Alabama, reported that vital funding for their annual Hispanic Heritage Month event was withdrawn shortly before it was slated to occur. This has left students who once felt proud of their campus’s celebration of Latino culture feeling disappointed and disillusioned.
Yet, Dominguez remains resolute. “We are still here,” she declared. “We’re continuing our efforts, even though it’s more challenging now. We won’t let this diminish our spirit because joy is a form of resistance.”
In Idaho, DEI initiatives have faced sustained hostility from conservative lawmakers who describe efforts to foster an inclusive environment as divisive. Recent legislative sessions have restricted colleges from using taxpayer money to fund DEI activities, and a new law enacted in 2024 prohibits the use of written diversity statements in hiring and student admissions.
In December, the Idaho State Board of Education dismantled DEI offices, a move that shocked many at the University of Idaho. Doctoral student Nick Koenig is even contemplating leaving the state due to these developments. “Where do your true values stand?” he pondered, recalling his decision to move to Idaho to study climate change, which was heavily influenced by his conversation with the director of the university’s LGBTQ center. “It’s not aligned with the needs of the most marginalized.”
So far, most attacks on DEI initiatives have originated from state governments, according to Jeremy Young from PEN America, an organization advocating for freedom of expression. He noted that support at the federal level for these programs has been minimal but anticipates a shift under a new administration.
Young also predicts that diversity criteria may soon be removed from research grants and accreditation processes. Historically, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights investigated discrimination issues; however, under Trump, it’s plausible that this office might begin to scrutinize diversity programs framed as discriminatory by conservatives.
Republicans could gain more opportunities to advance their agenda at the state level, buoyed by an administration that is likely inclined to permit red states to implement these policies, as indicated by Preston Cooper from the American Enterprise Institute.
Additionally, colleges may begin to eliminate programs deemed financially nonviable. Whether political motivations influence decisions regarding which programs are discontinued remains uncertain.
Douglas, the University of Missouri student, expressed worry over the diminishing promise of change that followed earlier student protests on campus. This semester, a group he is involved with had to rename its “Welcome Black BBQ” to ensure it was seen as inclusive. The Legion of Black Collegians, founded in response to a discriminatory act during a football game in 1968, voiced concern that this change concealed their visibility on campus.
For Douglas and many others, the ongoing struggle for civil rights that fueled diversity efforts is far from over. “While some may feel that progress has been made, Black individuals continue to experience adversity,” he asserted.
