By Mark D. Zimmerman
MELVILLE, New York — The Trump administration has targeted many universities, demanding changes in regard to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies. Many universities have had government funding withheld, and some have been pressured to sign a “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education,” which would require universities to exclude consideration of race, gender and ethnicity in admissions, maintain strict traditional views on gender, and prohibit certain campus student demonstrations.
This last issue particularly targets pro-Palestinian demonstrations which have taken place on many campuses, creating uncomfortable situations at the least for many Jewish students, and in some cases danger to those students. While one motive behind the administration’s efforts is to force universities to offer more protection to Jewish students against antisemitic attacks, these policies can actually make it more difficult for university administrators to serve all of their students well.
Earlier this year, Jim Ryan was forced out of his position as president of the University of Virginia under pressure from the Republican governor Glenn Youngkin, who had drafted a plan to ban DEI in public schools and universities including UVA. The governor and the United States Department of Justice claimed that Ryan failed to uphold the DEI ban. Ryan denied this and claimed that he did institute the new policy, but that the policy was vague and flawed. He gave examples of problems with the new policy, including that it could actually have a negative impact on Jewish students, saying what?
A. “For example, did it mean that we could no longer try to recruit qualified first-generation students from rural parts of Virginia, or offer financial aid, or even enroll Jewish students, because each of those efforts would be advancing diversity, equity, and/or inclusion?”
B. “For example, did it mean that we could no longer try to recruit qualified first-generation students from rural parts of Virginia, or offer financial aid, or even keep our Hillel House on campus, because each of those efforts would be advancing diversity, equity, and/or inclusion?”
C. “For example, did it mean that we could no longer try to recruit qualified first-generation students from rural parts of Virginia, or offer financial aid, or even allow Jewish students to miss class on the High Holidays, because each of those efforts would be advancing diversity, equity, and/or inclusion?”
D. “For example, did it mean that we could no longer try to recruit qualified first-generation students from rural parts of Virginia, or offer financial aid, or even have our theater department stage Fiddler on the Roof, because each of those efforts would be advancing diversity, equity, and/or inclusion?”
E. “For example, did it mean that we could no longer try to recruit qualified first-generation students from rural parts of Virginia, or offer financial aid, or even serve matzah in the dining halls during Passover, because each of those efforts would be advancing diversity, equity, and/or inclusion?”
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Link to answer: https://rrrjewishtrivia.com/universities-and-dei-answer.html
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Mark D. Zimmerman is an author and freelance writer.