On the second floor of Armstrong Student Center, tucked under the pavilion stairs, sits a nondescript room engraved with the words: “Center for Student Engagement.” The lights are usually off, and the door is closed.
Just a year ago, if you were to walk into this room – formerly the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion – you might have been met with the welcoming sight of students convened around the sitting areas, candy bowls on every surface and colorful signs loudly advocating for LGBTQ+ and minority rights.
Now, it’s all gone.
This phenomenon is not exclusive to Miami University. Public institutions across the state have been forced to dismantle their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices under Senate Bill 1 (S.B. 1).
S.B.1 is a policy that attempts to “stabilize” higher education by defunding DEI and liberal arts programs, imposing harsh restrictions on what material professors are allowed to cover in class and even instating a mandatory American civics course (while, of course, cutting programs that cover African-American, Native American and women’s history).
While S.B. 1 might seem harmless on the surface, it’s merely one of many measures taken by the Republican Party to suppress opposition and push right-wing rhetoric on younger generations. When paired with a series of ultranationalist executive orders, President Donald Trump's war against DEI becomes more than just an attempt to “reform” higher education – it’s a targeted attack on minority groups all across the United States.
This includes a mass deportation of immigrants, many of which are “under [legal] temporary protected status,” according to the Ohio Capital Journal; unconstitutional protest crackdowns of pro-Palestinian university students – a number of whom then have their visas revoked at universities like Ohio State University; and the deployment of military personnel to major U.S. cities, which PBS ironically notes are actually facing a decrease in crime.
To many of us, DEI might seem “woke” or “frivolous.” However, it’s important to consider that, according to a census conducted by College Factual, more than 70% of Miami’s student body identifies as white/Caucasian, making it a predominantly-white institution. This means that in nearly every classroom or program provided by Miami, non-white students make up an incredibly slim minority. Whether or not they experience outright discrimination, this can be an incredibly lonely experience.
But why should the school be forced to allocate funds to create a space for minority students while excluding the majority of Miami’s student body? This is the line of reasoning voters use to support S.B. 1. They fail to consider, however, the perspective of minority students on a predominantly-white campus. Having a space specifically designed to accommodate minority students goes deeper than simply giving them a safe place to relax and meet new people; it actively says, “You’re welcome here.”
The dismantling of Miami’s DEI office, when coupled with major political trends in our country, sends a troubling message. According to the Ohio Capital Journal, international students at a number of neighboring public institutions have had their visas revoked without warning, such as Ohio State, University of Cincinnati and Kent State University.
The Trump Administration has also released a number of executive orders targeting LGBTQ+ students, including the installation of new signs at the University of Cincinnati that divide public restrooms into “biological men” and “biological women” halves – adding unnecessary stress to a transgender student body already facing a 72% increase in suicide rates since dozen of states passed laws affecting transgender youth over the past few years.
While these executive orders may be signed five hundred miles away, in Washington, D.C., they have wide-reaching effects that reach all the way to Ohio, impacting our classmates and loved ones. Amidst all this, the least we can do is give these groups a safe place to simply exist and discuss their fears. Unfortunately, with the passage of S.B. 1, even this isn’t guaranteed.
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DEI isn’t some terrifying force tearing our country apart; neither are immigrants, transgender people or racial minorities. These are communities simply being scapegoated by politicians in order to unite a voting body against a vague “other.” The thing that’s really tearing our country apart is hatred.
In the end, what should we actively be fighting against: free condoms and candy bowls, or charlatan politicians who vow to make us “great” again by turning us against our own neighbors?
Karma Abboud is a sophomore studying international studies and professional writing, as well as Spanish and Arabic. She is an opinion writer for The Miami Student, a mentor in the English Language Program and president of Miami’s Arab Student Association.
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