The Civil Rights Act of 1965 initiated drastic changes in our country to prevent discrimination based on race, sex, color, national origin, and religion. Ever since, this law and others have moved our country toward a more equitable society for all people. 

The term DEI – diversity, equity and inclusion – was not used formally until the late 1990s 

Yet today’s backlash against DEI has the potential to reverse 60 years of progress that have been made since the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s.

The backlash is seeing universities in particular make adjustments that will have long-term effects on future generations. Columbia University recently surrendered to the threats from the President to withhold $400-milliion in federal grants unless it acceded to his many demands, which included removing DEI statements, expelling or suspending students who participated in the pro-Palestinian campus takeover, and hiring 36 more campus police and giving them authority to make campus arrests. 

Many question why Columbia so quickly agreed to the changes, as the university has the means to face the legal fight against such demands.

Two  weeks ago, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor decided to close its Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and its Office for Health Equity and Inclusion at the university. UMich officials stated that they will discontinue their DEI 2.0 strategic plan, diversity statements from any office will be removed, student services will be discontinued, and all diversity programs will end.  The university says the change was a result of complaints from some faculty, students, and alums who said that these programs are discriminatory. 

Even though other states have passed legislation to ban DEI practices in response to the President’s Executive Orders, Michigan has not passed such laws. In fact, Michigan’s state  Senate approved a resolution “supporting policies that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.” 

Several faculty, staff, and students are outraged by these changes and believe it will lead to the university’s downfall.

As these prestigious institutions weigh the impact of the backlash against DEI initiatives, two universities close to home have their own perspective and mission on what creates a welcoming, inclusive environment where all students, faculty, and staff thrive.

I recently spoke with Dr. LaMar Coleman, Vice President for Equity and Diversity at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, and he affirmed his university’s commitment to creating an inclusive college community. 

In the face of national pressure and change, he stated that Eastern has continued to push forward in its work on diversity. He noted that the college president, Dr. Karim Ismaili, continues to emphasize building a welcoming and diverse campus. 

“He has given word to the campus community that we are not going to use the acronym or the term DEI because he recognized the fact that the acronym or just the statement, DEI, has been weaponized and has been turned into a negative connotation,” Coleman said. 

Using the actual words – diversity, equity, and inclusion – instead of ‘DEI’ forces one to truly understand what the terms mean, according to Coleman.

“What is wrong with us being a diverse campus and wanting to make sure that our student body is diverse, and that our workforce is diverse, and that we appreciate and embrace all of the differences that people bring to our campus community? What’s wrong with that?” Coleman asks.

This statement echoes what federal judges have said in response to the President’s Executive Orders. 

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit recently lifted a nationwide injunction on the President’s Executive Orders that targeted DEI initiatives, allowing them to go into force while other legal challenges continue.

But even in lifting the stay, Chief Judge Albert Diaz referenced the desire to embrace diversity that highlights the identity of all Americans and establishes more inclusive environments where all people are valued 

“What could be more American than that?” he asked.

Although the Fourth Circuit found that the executive orders were not unconstitutional, they warned that actions taken in response to them could be unconstitutional. 

Christine Grant, Assistant Vice President of the Office of Inclusive Excellence and Belonging at the University of Hartford has also been wrestling with these issues.

Like Eastern, she says the way forward is to remove the focus on the weaponized DEI term, and instead, concentrate on inclusion.

“Coming into this position, I always looked at the work through the lens of inclusivity. I was never an advocate to start the language with diversity. It was always my thought that it was very limiting,” she told me. 

In her tenure working with students, faculty, and staff she heard the message that they wanted inclusivity, visibility, and to feel like they belonged at the university.

Over time, she moved her work on campus from a focus on DEI to a focus on what she calls “inclusive excellence.” 

“When you look through the lens of inclusivity, you stand more of an opportunity not to exclude anyone or any group or identity; you will more likely than not be inclusive,” she said.

The President’s Executive Orders have caused worry at most colleges across our nation, and students, faculty, and staff wonder if the progress made on their campuses to be more inclusive and welcoming will be halted and even reversed. 

Coleman says it’s hard to determine what type of impact the executive orders will have because it is a bouncing ball that has yet to settle. He and his campus are determined to be steadfast in their work to ensure that everyone in their community knows they belong at the university. 

Grant noted that the impact of the false narrative around DEI is divisive and will only breed more divisiveness in our country. 

As we look into the future, much will continue to be required of us to ensure that not only our campus communities but also our workplaces and public spaces are inclusive and welcoming to all people. 

We must express the same tenacity as Oprah Winfrey did when she said, “I refuse to be quiet in the face of injustice. And perhaps the best thing about America is that—young or old, rich or poor, no matter your race, whatever your religion or your sexual orientation—you too can stand up and speak out! No better moment than this one.” 

We must work together to challenge all injustices in our country and global society. We must ensure that all students at higher educational institutions feel welcomed and included.

Kevin L. Booker, Jr is a member of the Connecticut Mirror’s Community Editorial Board.