The political landscape is peaking in confusion and misinformation. Executive orders fly in with a lack of cohesion and are immediately blocked by federal judges, leaving them paused or stranded until confirmation. We’re left wondering what to follow or believe due to the polarization on either side. No one can make sense of it all, which I believe is the point of the rapidity and content of the administration’s output. I’m not going to touch on any sort of politics of my own, but just wanted to bring attention to the effect felt here on campus from some of these orders.
Executive orders 14151 and 14173 in particular have been a frequent topic of discussion here on campus. These are the institutional rollbacks of DEI, now required at the federal level and strongly encouraged on a corporate one. Many higher education institutions have been steadily rolling back DEI programs since November, mostly public ones but many private universities as well. Be it financially, socially, or just nominally, these DEI programs are quickly shrinking or mutating into entirely separate entities, lacking the language and priorities it had when established.
Now this is not necessarily a “bad” thing for students. Many reports surrounding the protests of the Israel-Palestine conflict actually found that both Muslim and Jewish students on the campuses of Columbia, Stanford and the University of Pennsylvania actually felt more excluded by DEI programs rather than protected. One of the biggest criticisms of identity-based programming leveled by conservatives in higher education is that it pits identities against each other in discussion, with “right” and “wrong” identities to have. Our own Free Speech Alliance here at Furman recently published an open letter to President Davis demanding DEI to be removed from its hiring practices. They claim that requiring faculty and staff members to answer questions concerning DEI is “compelled speech” which “violates fundamental free speech rights.”
Furman does not have a formally labeled and massively funded DEI program such as the University of Michigan does. Some of the same language concerning identity-based programming can be found within its Pathways program, On Discourse initiative and branches, and Center for Inclusive Communities though. All of these programs focus much more on dialogue between students rather than lectures on terminology, and more exist as a catalyst for civil discourse. Umbrella organizations such as the Student Diversity Council also exist not to inspire discourse but to bring visibility and recognition to the diversity of background found on Furman’s campus. These programs do not focus solely on ideological viewpoints or politics, and more focus on the depth of culture on campus.
When faced with the possibility of DEI being removed from campus, many students become angry and confused. Furman contains students from a wide variety of backgrounds and prides itself on an incredible liberal arts education, one which includes a vast diversity of thought. It can feel institutionally like a slap in the face if Furman removes DEI from its campus. In its absence, how do we remain inclusive? How effective even is our DEI programming here on campus?
I can’t say how Furman will react to these orders or what the future of DEI is on campus. I do want to separate DEI and inclusivity though, and firmly believe that organizations like the SDC and CIC do much more for students than any social justice programming, and the On Discourse initiative has it right with its goal and output. Inclusivity doesn’t happen without effort though, and we absolutely cannot let it slip from our goals as an institution. Students must be made comfortable here on campus, and that should be an institutional priority as well as one of everyone on campus.
I didn’t publish anything last week because one of my dearest friends from home was visiting and I wanted to show him around. He met countless folks and was baffled by the small size and tight-knit community. At first, he was joking about its negative effect on one’s love life, but then saw how unique it was. This place constantly surprises me and challenges me in a way I love and helps me grow. I would do anything to keep it that way, and I beg all of you to cherish it. That’s why inclusivity is so important and can’t be shrugged off. It’s what makes Furman so special.
