Coastal Carolina’s Social Justice Club publicly addressed university administrators and those in positions of power Thursday, July 3, demanding that they give the student body what they deserve: the truth.
A detailed letter addressing administrators and the larger community was posted on the club’s official Instagram page. The letter called for clarity and improved communication concerning the future of student organizations following Executive Order 14151.
“The student body deserves clarity. We deserve honesty. We deserve transparency,” wrote President of the Social Justice Club Jayden Smith.
Immediately as he took office on Jan. 20, President Donald Trump signed Executive order 14151, titled “Ending radical and wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing.”
Former CCU president, Michael T. Benson emailed the student body two weeks later concerning this executive order. Benson acknowledged the potential impacts related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) while promising updates of necessary changes.
Since Benson’s email, there has been no further communication with the student body concerning changes made related to the executive order.
According to an article published by The Chanticleer on Feb. 21., “CCU’s Intercultural and Inclusion Student Services provides community for all students.”
However, The Social Justice Club stated that the Intercultural and Inclusion Student Services Office (IISS) has since ceased to exist and has been replaced with the Student Union Office. The club pointed out that the university offered no explanation for this action or communication with the community concerning details.
“As student leaders committed to transparency and equity, we are deeply concerned by the speed and silence with which these changes occurred,” the letter read.
Smith went on to state that student leaders have asked the administration to clarify the effects of Executive order 14151 on departments and student organizations, but these requests were either redirected or ignored.
The Social Justice Club’s letter demands that those in leadership positions take accountability for their lack of communication and clarify changes following the Executive order.
Jayden Smith addresses not only the student body, but students at other universities to take a stand.
“If changes are happening on your campus, you have the right to know and the power to respond,” Jayden Smith wrote.
About a month later, the student body received an email from Mariel Pagán Smith, interim vice president for student affairs and assistant vice president for student engagement on July 31.
“In looking ahead to the future of student engagement and support on our campus, Student Affairs has undergone several structural changes,” Pagán Smith wrote.
The email mentioned that these updates were provided with attention to university policies as well as federal expectations, specifically the U.S. Department of Education.
In this email Pagán Smith officially signified the closing of the Intercultural and Inclusion Student Services (IISS).
“While the office has formally closed, its aim—to create a supportive campus environment that encourages achievement and success for all students—continues to guide our work,” the email read.
The staff members previously employed in the office have been relocated to other areas of Student Affairs, although not specified where. Pagán Smith explained that student-led initiates previously apart of IISS now exist as student organizations.
“We recognize that these changes have taken place during the summer, a time when many students are away from campus,” Pagán Smith wrote.
To compensate for this, Student Affairs will host student engagement sessions, providing a space for students to ask questions and share feedback. She stated that information concerning these events will be provided in a later email.
It is unclear if this email was in response to The Social Justice Club’s demand for answers. The Chanticleer News has reached out to request further explanation concerning this email, to which the university acknowledged on Aug. 5 and said they would respond shortly.
