Historically Disadvantaged Students Reflect on DEI Cutbacks
"Inclusive workplaces encourage creativitCollege students from historically disadvantaged communities: Black, Indigenous, Latine, LGBTQIA+ and people with disabilities are feeling the brunt of the Trump's administration's retreat from Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs, which have long been a remedy for past discrimination.
Moreover, many firms in the private sector like Target, Walmart, Meta, McDonald’s and PepsiCo are following Trump's lead and scaling back their own DEI initiatives.
How are students from these groups responding? Do they still feel that they can successfully pursue their dreams of a college education and in turn a promising career in their major area of study?
To find out, CommPRO spoke with staff members and students from Columbia College Chicago, a leading media and performing arts institution that prides itself on fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment.
"The college has always been diverse, queer, and inclusive," maintains Ames Hawkins, Ph.D., director of Columbia's School of Communication and Culture and professor of English and Creative Writing. "We haven’t had to try and be this-- It’s what makes us who we are."
Hawkins adds that this will not change, and no presidential order has the power to change who a person is, how they identify, what pronouns they use, who they love, or what their career goals may be.
"The School of Community and Culture is committed to supporting student learning and creating the space in which everyone feels supported and confident in expressing their thoughts and authoring the stories and culture of their times."
Marina Bradley, a sophomore from Montana who has a disability, agrees, refusing to let the current climate dash her hopes while remaining steadfast in achieving her goals.
"As a student in the middle of all of this, it can be really difficult to not get caught up in what feels like a world-ending disaster," Bradley acknowledges. "However, it's been really important to me to maintain a broader perspective, and focus in on the opportunities that were and are still best for me."
She takes the view that if a project or company doesn't align with her beliefs to the point of not wanting to hire her, or others with disabilities, then those places are not worth investing time into in the first place.
"There is still, and will always be, enough opportunities and resources to go around, no matter how many times people try to convince you there's not," she says.
Bradley asserts that things other people say only affect you if you let them.
"While Trump's executive orders and hateful social media posts might be difficult to see, at the end of the day, they don't usually have any immediate effect."
Though Ryan Anderson, an African American student at Columbia, expresses concern that without DEI, workplace diversity as well as organizational morale will stagnate.
Noting that gutting DEI is a response to criticism from some conservative groups, Anderson argues that the long-haul benefits of having vigorous diversity programs far outweighs the short-term gain of placating political critics. "Studies show that companies and organizations with robust DEI programs fare better financially, make more informed decisions and have higher employee satisfaction."
Like Bradley, he emphasizes that rollbacks of DEI initiatives won’t deter him or other students from marginalized groups from achieving their goals.
"For many students like me, DEI programs are not made to give us any special treatment, rather to make the playing field level,” he says. “I was taught to work twice as hard at a young age, and will continue to do so.”
Anderson observes that attacks on DEI programs have helped unify students from marginalized communities.
"We are building our networks, uplifting each other and proving that our success doesn't stem from the government signing off on it."
