What happens when DEI goes away?
University of Texas junior Isabel Bellard was part of the Fearless Leadership Institute, a program that supported Black and Hispanic female students. The program helped her find a community on campus with shared experiences and gave her access to opportunities she wouldn't have otherwise had, such as taking her first-ever flight to New York to network with businesses.
But then she found out that the leadership institute that meant so much to her was on the chopping block. UT Austin President Jay Hartzell sent an email on Tuesday announcing the school's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion offices would be eliminated in accordance with the state's anti-DEI law that went into effect in January. The legislation signed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott last year banned Diversity, Equity and Inclusion offices and initiatives at public universities and colleges.
Hartzell said that in implementing changes required under the law, the university would close the new campus division altogether and eliminate programs that "now overlap with our efforts elsewhere."
Within an hour of the email, Bellard said she saw her program's website was removed from UT's server.
UT Austin students and staff told Paste BN the anti-DEI measures have resulted in the loss of resources, layoffs of employees and devastation to crucial programs that uplift marginalized people at the school. Moving forward, these communities are searching for solidarity and support as they face an increasingly hostile environment.