UC shutters diversity programs and departments in response to new Ohio law
The University of Cincinnati shuttered its diversity, equity and inclusion programs June 24 in response to a Republican-led change in Ohio law that banned such programs and threatened to withhold money from schools that fail to comply.
In an email to students and faculty, UC President Neville Pinto said the university will close its Equity and Inclusion Office, its LGBTQ Center, its Women's Center and four Identity Centers that offer programs supporting diverse student populations. UC also will rename the African American Cultural & Resource Center the "Cultural Center."
Pinto said he recognized the changes would be difficult for many UC students who relied on the centers and programs for academic and peer support. Some students have described the programs as essential to their college experience because they offered a sense of belonging to minority and LGBTQ students who might otherwise feel isolated.
"I recognize that unwinding deeply rooted efforts around inclusion will undoubtedly challenge core feelings of belonging for many in our community," Pinto wrote. "My message to you is unequivocal: You belong here."
He also suggested that other programs, or the renamed versions of existing programs, still could provide the sense of community that students previously got from the disbanded programs.
"I encourage you to use the new facilities and programs to remain connected and find the support you need," he wrote.
The moves at UC are a response to Ohio Senate Bill 1, which outlawed diversity, equity and inclusion programs in public education. The bill, signed into law by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, takes effect this week.
The measure is part of a nationwide conservative movement against DEI programs that has been led by President Donald Trump. Since taking office in January, Trump has issued numerous executive orders dismantling programs and departments that he considers related to DEI. Those orders have taken aim at transgender people in the military, government programs that recruit or support minority employees, foreign aid that provides food and medicine to people of color, and museums that include exhibits about racism, civil rights and slavery.
Trump and other Republicans say DEI programs are racist because they encourage people to think about others in terms of their race rather than their abilities.
The changes announced June 24 at UC have been playing out in some measure at public colleges and universities across Ohio and the nation. In Ohio, failure to comply with Senate Bill 1 could cost colleges and universities their share of the $2 billion the state spends annually on operations and construction to support those schools.
UC junior Mel Searle, a student leader involved in the LGBTQ Center, said the decision to end UC's diversity programs is "heartbreaking" but not surprising. After working with other Ohio college students to oppose Senate Bill 1, she said she knew its passage would spell the end of programs that she considers crucial to the student experience at UC.
"I'm still disappointed and very angry," Searle said. "For many students, these centers really were our homes on campus. We're losing our home. That is incredibly heartbreaking to witness."
Pinto made clear in his letter to students and faculty that the new law drove the decision to end DEI programs at UC. It's unclear from his letter whether any staff or faculty would lose their jobs because of the elimination of DEI programs, but he indicated some would be reassigned to new roles.
He said he and UC officials remain committed to the needs of all students, despite the elimination of the programs.
"We must uphold our enduring commitment to access and success through educational programs that respond to the needs of our society," Pinto wrote. "We will strive to ensure that every student, faculty and staff member finds their place here and has the support they need to be successful."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: University of Cincinnati ends DEI programs in response to new Ohio law
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